Saturday, November 2, 2024

Telepharmacy Services Demonstrate Cost-Effectiveness In Non-Cancer Settings

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Telepharmacy, the provision of pharmacy services from a distance using telecommunications and other technologies, has been the subject of limited research regarding its cost-effectiveness. This necessitated a comprehensive review and narrative synthesis of the available economic evidence on telepharmacy services (TS) in non-cancer settings.

A systematic literature search was conducted across four databases including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and EconLit. The aim was to identify economic evaluations comparing TS to standard pharmacy care. The search was refined by screening abstracts and full texts for inclusion against the eligibility criteria. The key economic findings were then extracted from the included articles to determine the cost-effectiveness of the reported telepharmacy services.

The review incorporated six studies, with two undertaking cost-minimization analyses, three conducting cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA), and one study engaging in both a CEA and cost-utility analysis. TS mainly relied on telephone modes of communication, with three studies involving remote patient monitoring. The services managed a range of clinical situations such as newly initiated antibiotics, antiretroviral therapy management, medications for chronic conditions, and hypertension management.

Telepharmacy

Telepharmacy Services: High-Quality Evidence Supports Cost-Effectiveness in Non-Cancer Settings

The articles included in the review were of high reporting quality, scoring an average of 83% on the Consolidated Health Economics Reporting Standards checklist. Four out of the six studies concluded that telepharmacy was less costly than usual care, with two declaring telepharmacy as cost-effective to the healthcare system based on a specified cost-effectiveness threshold.

In conclusion, the review indicates emerging evidence that TS can be cost-effective compared to standard care in non-cancer settings. However, further research is required to supplement these findings, especially considering the increased adoption of telehealth and TS since the start of the Coronavirus disease pandemic.

 

Original Article DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2024.01.002

Original title: Economic evaluations of telepharmacy services in non-cancer settings: A systematic review

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