Cost-effectiveness of a systematic e-Assessed follow-up of postoperative recovery after day surgery: A multicentre randomized trial

Abstract

Background Most surgeries are done on a day-stay basis. Recovery assessment by phone points (RAPP) is a smartphone-based application (app) to evaluate patients after day surgery. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of using RAPP for follow-up on postoperative recovery compared with standard care. Methods This study was a prospective parallel single-blind multicentre randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group using RAPP or the control group receiving standard care. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed based on individual data and included costs for the intervention, health effect [quality-Adjusted life-years (QALYs)], and costs or savings in health-care use. Results The mean cost for health-care consumption during 2 weeks after surgery was estimated at €37.29 for the intervention group and €60.96 for the control group. The mean difference was €23.66 (99% confidence interval â '46.57 to â ' 0.76; P=0.008). When including the costs of the intervention, the cost-effectiveness analysis showed net savings of €4.77 per patient in favour of the intervention. No difference in QALYs gained was seen between the groups (P=0.75). The probability of the intervention being cost-effective was 71%. Conclusions This study shows that RAPP can be cost-effective but had no effect on QALY. RAPP can be a cost-effective tool in providing low-cost health-care contacts and in systematically assessing the quality of postoperative recovery. Clinical trial registration NCT02492191.