Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of a Telehealth-enhanced Integrated Care Model for Older Patients Managed in the Domiciliary Setting: the BeyondSilos Project (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Information and communication technology may provide domiciliary care programs with continuity of care. However, evidence about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of information and communication technology in the context of integrated care models is relatively scarce. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to provide evidence on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the BeyondSilos project for patients enrolled in the Badalona city pilot site in Spain. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of information and communication technology-enhanced integration of health and social care, including the third sector (intervention), compared to basic health and social care coordination (comparator). The study was conducted in Badalona between 2015 and 2016. Participants were followed for 8 months. RESULTS The study included 198 patients: 98 in the intervention group and 100 in the comparator group. The mean Barthel index remained unchanged in the intervention group (mean change 0.14, 95% CI -4.51 to 4.78; P=.95) but decreased in the comparator group (mean change -3.23, 95% CI -5.34 to -1.11; P=.003). Instrumental Activities of Daily Living significantly decreased in both groups: mean changes of -0.23 (95% CI -0.44 to -0.02; P=.03) and -0.33 (95% CI -0.46 to -0.20; P<.001) in the intervention and comparator groups, respectively. No differences were found in the Geriatric Depression Scale (intervention: mean change 0.28, 95% CI -0.44 to 1.01, P=.44; comparator: mean change -0.29, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.01, P=.06). The intervention showed cost-effectiveness (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio €6505.52, approximately US $7582). CONCLUSIONS The information and communication technology-enhanced integrated domiciliary care program was cost-effective. The beneficial effects of this approach strongly rely upon the commitment of the professional staff involved. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03111004; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ NCT03111004.