Table 4

Sensitivity analyses by treatment group

Manipulation of variables
Incremental cost versus usual care per person (€)
Cost utility ratioa (€/QALY)

Health system analysis:


Number of participants per pool session:


30% lower (10 patients/group)
773
5,900
30% higher (20 patients/group)
389
2,969
Salary of personnel:


30% lower (monitor and nurse)
479
3,656
30% higher (monitor and nurse)
554
4,229
No additional salary of nurse
465
3,550
Best case scenario of salary, participation and effectivenessb
348
1,200
Worst case scenario of salary, participation and effectivenessv
830
75,455
Societal analysis:


Number of participants per pool session:


30% lower (10 patients/group)
1,288
9,832
30% higher (20 patients/group)
904
6,901
Salary of personnel:


30% lower (monitor and nurse)
994
7,588
30% higher (monitor and nurse)
1,069
8,160
No additional salary of nurse
980
7,481
Distance to facilities per session:


Near (without bus ticket and 1.5 h spent)
831
6,344
Far (4 bus ticket and 2.5 h spent)
1,442
11,008
Best case scenario of salary, participation, effectiveness and nearb
662
2,283
Worst case scenario of salary, participation, effectiveness and farc
1,755
159,545

QALY, quality adjusted life year.

aFrom the Spanish Health System, the cost-utility ratio threshold was set at € 23,153/QALY for 8 months in 2005; bpool rental + participation 20 persons per group + QALY differential at higher limit of 95% confidence interval; csalary 30% higher (monitor and nurse) + participation 10 persons per group + QALY differential at lower limit of 95% confidence interval.

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