Table 2

Incremental cost of the exercise programme compared to usual care

Concept
Unita
Over 8 months (€)
Total (€)

Health system costs:



Personnel:b



Sport technician
€ 9/h
1,092

Nurse
€ 6.5/h
788

Insurances and prevention
€ 350
350

Facilities (renting pool and safeguards)
€ 55/h
5335

Management
€ 24/month
192

Medication (total health system perspective)c
Drug price
0
7,757
Additional societal costs:



Time spent in therapy
€ 2.15/h
3,135

Time spent in displacements and clothing
€ 2.15/h
3,135

Travel costs (bus tickets)
€ 0.5/ticket
1,455

Sub-total, societal additional costs


7,725
Total societal (additional costs and health system costs)


15,482

aPublic cost in € in 2005; bsalary over 8 months = number of units × 13 h/month × 9.33 monthly salaries; cno relevant incremental costs between groups were found. The weekly cost of medication increased € 5.4 from baseline in each group.

Gusi and Tomas-Carus Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008 10:R24   doi:10.1186/ar2377