[An economic analysis of presurgical teledermatology in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer]. / Teledermatología prequirúrgica en pacientes con cáncer cutáneo no melanoma. Evaluación económica.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer, store-and-forward teledermatology allows satisfactory diagnosis and surgical planning, thus shortening waiting lists and reducing travel requirements for patients in special situations. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to undertake an economic analysis of presurgical teledermatology, comparing it with a conventional health care approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cost and cost-effectiveness of presurgical teledermatology were analyzed from a societal perspective in the setting of a public hospital with a corporate intranet. The mean delay in surgery was used to measure effectiveness. Over a 12-month period, teledermatology was used in 134 patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer. The unit cost of each intervention (teledermatology and conventional health care approach), the cost ratio between the most and least expensive alternative, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were calculated. We distinguished between 2 groups of patients: those with and those without physical impediments for travel. RESULTS: The unit cost of the patients in whom teledermatology was used was euro 156.40 compared to euro 278.42 per patient in the conventional system; the conventional system was therefore 1.78 times more expensive than presurgical teledermatology. Teledermatology was more cost-effective, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of euro 3.10 per patient and per day of delay avoided in patients without impediments for travel and euro 4.87 in those with impediments for travel. CONCLUSION: Teledermatology used for remote presurgical planning and preparation in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer is more cost-effective than the conventional referral system in a health setting with a communication network available.

Teledermatología prequirúrgica en pacientes con cáncer cutáneo no melanoma. Evaluación económica / An economic analysis of presurgical teledermatology in patients with nomelanoma skin cancer

Introducción. En pacientes con cáncer de piel no melanoma la teledermatología diferida permite una adecuada aproximación diagnóstica y planificación quirúrgica, acortando la demora y evitando desplazamientos en pacientes con situaciones especiales. Objetivo. Evaluación económica de la teledermatología prequirúrgica, comparándola con la asistencia convencional. Material y método. Descripción de costes y análisis coste-efectividad bajo una perspectiva social de la teledermatología prequirúrgica en el ámbito de un hospital público dotado de infraestructura de redes (intranet corporativa). Se consideró como medida de efectividad la demora media hasta la intervención quirúrgica. Durante un período de 12 meses se atendieron un total de 134 pacientes con cáncer no melanoma mediante teledermatología, calculando el coste unitario de cada intervención (teledermatología y asistencia convencional), la ratio de coste entre la alternativa más cara y la más barata y la ratio de coste-efectividad incremental. Se diferenciaron dos grupos de pacientes, con y sin dificultades físicas para el desplazamiento. Resultados. El coste unitario de los pacientes atendidos mediante teledermatología fue de 156,40 euros, frente a 278,42 euros por paciente en el sistema convencional; la asistencia convencional resultó 1,78 veces más cara que la teledermatología prequirúrgica. La teledermatología demostró ser más coste-efectiva, con una ratio coste-efectividad incremental de 3,10 euros ahorrados por paciente y día de demora evitado en pacientes sin dificultades para el desplazamiento, y de 4,87 euros en pacientes con dificultades para el desplazamiento. Conclusión. La teledermatología orientada a la planificación y preparación prequirúrgica remota de pacientes con cáncer no melanoma es una intervención más coste-efectiva que el sistema de derivación convencional en un medio sanitario dotado de infraestructura de redes de comunicación (AU)

Introduction. In patients with non melanoma skin cancer, store-and-forward teledermatology allows satisfactory diagnosis and surgical planning, thus shortening waiting lists and reducing travel requirements for patients in special situations. Objective. The aim of this study was to undertake an economic analysis of presurgical teledermatology, comparing it with a conventional health care approach. Material and methods. The cost and cost-effectiveness of presurgical teledermatology were analyzed from a societal perspective in the setting of a public hospital with a corporate intranet. The mean delay in surgery was used to measure effectiveness. Over a 12-month period, teledermatology was used in 134 patients with non melanoma skin cancer. The unit cost of each intervention (teledermatology and conventional health care approach), the cost ratio between the most and least expensive alternative, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were calculated. We distinguished between 2 groups of patients: those with and those without physical impediments for travel. Results. The unit cost of the patients in whom teledermatology was used was 1156.40 compared to 1278.42 per patient in the conventional system; the conventional system was therefore 1.78 times more expensive than presurgical teledermatology. Teledermatology was more cost-effective, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 13.10 per patient and per day of delay avoided in patients without impediments for travel and 14.87 in those with impediments for travel. Conclusion. Teledermatology used for remote presurgical planning and preparation in patients with non melanoma skin cancer is more cost-effective than the conventional referral system in a health setting with a communication network available (AU)

[Quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing out-patient treatment with TNF inhibitors]. / Calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoide en tratamiento ambulatorio con anti-TNF.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing out-patient treatment with TNF inhibitors (etanercept and adalimumab). METHOD: Observational, descriptive and multi-centre study. A specific validated questionnaire was used (QOL-RA Scale) in its Spanish version, with complete confidentiality ensured. To measure the reliability of the results, the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used. A descriptive analysis was carried out to compare the results obtained with those obtained from studies in the USA and Colombia. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were selected who mainly consisted of married housewives who had not undergone any previous studies. The average amount of years from diagnosis was 11.81 years (SD: 7.30) and the average duration of treatment with TNF inhibitors was 1.71 years (SD: 1.03). The results of the questionnaire were: physical ability 5.42 (SD: 1.67), pain 5.10 (SD: 1.83), social life 7.08 (SD: 1.96), support 7.45 (SD: 2.10), mood 6.02 (SD: 2.03), stress 5.50 (SD: 2.01), arthritis 5.15 (SD: 1.86), health 5.50 (SD: 1.77). The results obtained were similar to those from the USA, although they showed a lower score for mood and stress categories. However, the high score in the support and social-life categories was more similar to that obtained with the Colombian questionnaire. All patients considered their quality of life to have improved with the use of TNF inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis is low, determined by pain and symptoms of depression. The patients believe that TNF inhibitors have improved their quality of life.

Calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoide en tratamiento ambulatorio con anti-TNF / Quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing out-patient treatment with TNF inhibitors

Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoideen tratamiento ambulatorio con anti-TNF (etanercept y adalimumab).Método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y multicéntrico. Se utilizóun cuestionario específico validado (QOL-RA Scale) en su versión enespañol, manteniendo la confidencialidad al máximo. Para medir lafiabilidad de los resultados se utilizó el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach.Se ha realizado un análisis descriptivo para comparar los resultadosobtenidos con estudios realizados en la población estadounidense ycolombiana.Resultados: Se seleccionaron 82 pacientes. Destacó el perfil de amade casa, casada y con ningún estudio o estudios primarios. La mediade años de diagnóstico fue 11,81 ± 7,30 años y la de tratamiento conanti-TNF fue de 1,71 ± 1,03 años. Los resultados para la encuesta fueron:habilidad física 5,42 ± 1,67), dolor 5,10 ± 1,83, vida social 7,08± 1,96, apoyo 7,45 ± 2,10), estado de ánimo 6,02 ± 2,03, tensiónnerviosa 5,50 ± 2,01, artritis 5,15 ± 1,86), salud 5,50 ± 1,77. Los resultadosobtenidos fueron similares a los encontrados en la poblaciónestadounidense, aunque destaca una menor puntuación en elánimo y la tensión nerviosa. Sin embargo, la alta puntuación en lo referenteal apoyo y la vida social fue más parecida a la obtenida en lapoblación colombiana. Todos los pacientes consideraron que su calidadde vida había mejorado con la medicación anti-TNF.Conclusiones: La calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoidees baja, determinada por el dolor y los síntomas depresivos. Lospacientes tienen la percepción de que los anti-TNF han mejorado sucalidad de vida

Objective: To assess the quality of life of patients with rheumatoidarthritis undergoing out-patient treatment with TNF inhibitors (etanerceptand adalimumab).Method: Observational, descriptive and multi-centre study. A specificvalidated questionnaire was used (QOL-RA Scale) in its Spanish version,with complete confidentiality ensured. To measure the reliabilityof the results, the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used. A descriptiveanalysis was carried out to compare the results obtained withthose obtained from studies in the USA and Colombia.Results: A total of 82 patients were selected who mainly consisted ofmarried housewives who had not undergone any previous studies.The average amount of years from diagnosis was 11.81 years (SD:7.30) and the average duration of treatment with TNF inhibitors was1.71 years (SD: 1.03). The results of the questionnaire were: physicalability 5.42 (SD: 1.67), pain 5.10 (SD: 1.83), social life 7.08 (SD:1.96), support 7.45 (SD: 2.10), mood 6.02 (SD: 2.03), stress 5.50(SD: 2.01), arthritis 5.15 (SD: 1.86), health 5.50 (SD: 1.77). The resultsobtained were similar to those from the USA, although they showeda lower score for mood and stress categories. However, the highscore in the support and social-life categories was more similar tothat obtained with the Colombian questionnaire. All patients consideredtheir quality of life to have improved with the use of TNF inhibitors.Conclusions: The quality of life in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritisis low, determined by pain and symptoms of depression. The patientsbelieve that TNF inhibitors have improved their quality of life

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