Cost-effectiveness of skin cancer referral and consultation using teledermoscopy in Australia

Snoswell, Centaine L., Caffery, Liam J., Whitty, Jennifer A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5886-1933, Soyer, H. Peter and Gordon, Louisa G. (2018) Cost-effectiveness of skin cancer referral and consultation using teledermoscopy in Australia. JAMA Dermatology, 154 (6). pp. 694-700. ISSN 2168-6068

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Abstract

Importance: International literature has shown that teledermoscopy referral may be a viable method for skin cancer referral, however no economic investigations have occurred in Australia. Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of teledermoscopy as a referral mechanism for skin cancer diagnosis and management in Australia. Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis using a decision-analytic model. Setting: Primary care. Participants: Australian general population (modelled). Intervention: We compared the costs of teledermoscopy referral (electronic referral containing digital dermoscopic images) versus usual care (a written referral letter) for specialist dermatologist review of a suspected skin cancer. Main outcome measures: Cost and time in ‘days to clinical resolution’, where clinical resolution was defined as diagnosis by a dermatologist or excision by a general practitioner. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the uncertainty of the main results. Results: Time to clinical resolution was 26 days earlier with teledermoscopy referral compared with usual care alone (95%Credible interval (CrI) 13 to 38). The estimated mean cost difference between teledermoscopy referral ($318.39) versus usual care ($263.75) was $54.64 (95%CrI $22.69 to $97.35) per person. The incremental cost per day saved to clinical resolution was $2.10 (95%CrI $0.87 to $5.29). Conclusion and Relevance: Using teledermoscopy for skin cancer referral and triage in Australia will cost $54.64 extra per case on average, but will result in clinical resolution 26 days sooner than usual care. Implementation recommendations depend on the preferences of the Australian health system decision makers for either lower cost or expedited clinical resolution. Further research around the clinical significance of expedited clinical resolution and its importance for patients could inform implementation recommendations for the Australian setting.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Economics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Respiratory and Airways Group Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2018 10:30
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 03:38
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/67260
DOI:	10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0855

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