1
|
Bryant J, Sanson-Fisher R, Fradgley E, Hobden B, Zucca A, Henskens F, Searles A, Webb B, Oldmeadow C. A consumer register: an acceptable and cost-effective alternative for accessing patient populations. BMC Med Res Methodol 2016; 16:134. [PMID: 27724888 PMCID: PMC5057257 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-016-0238-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Population-based registries are increasingly used to recruit patient samples for research, however, they have several limitations including low consent and participation rates, and potential selection bias. To improve access to samples for research, the utility of a new model of recruitment termed the ‘Consumer Register’, that allows for direct patient recruitment from hospitals, was examined. This paper reports: (i) consent rates onto the register; (ii) preferred methods and frequency of contact; and (iii) the feasibility of establishing the register, including: (a) cost per person recruited to the register; (b) the differential cost and consent rates of volunteer versus paid data collectors; and (c) participant completion rates. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five outpatient clinics in Australia. Patients were approached by volunteers or paid data collectors and asked to complete a touch-screen electronic survey. Consenting individuals were asked to indicate their willingness and preferences for enrolment onto a research register. Descriptive statistics were used to examine patient preferences and linear regression used to model the success of volunteer versus paid data collectors. The opportunity and financial costs of establishing the register were calculated. Results A total of 1947 patients (80.6 %) consented to complete the survey, of which, 1486 (76.3 %) completed the questionnaire. Of the completers, the majority (69.4 %, or 1032 participants) were willing to be listed on the register and preferred to be contacted by email (50.3 %). Almost 39 % of completers were willing to be contacted three or more times in a 12 month period. The annual opportunity cost of resources consumed by the register was valued at $37,187, giving an opportunity cost per person recruited to the register of $36. After amortising fixed costs, the annual financial outlay was $23,004 or $22 per person recruited to the register. Use of volunteer data collectors contributed to an annual saving of $14,183, however paid data collectors achieved significantly higher consent rates. Successful enrolment onto the register was completed for 42 % of the sample. Conclusions A Consumer Register is a promising and feasible alternative to population-based registries, with the majority of participants willing to be contacted multiple times via low-resource methods such as email. There is an effectiveness/cost trade off in the use of paid versus volunteer data collectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Bryant
- Health Behaviour Research Group, Priority Research Centre in Health Behaviour and Hunter Medical Research Institute, HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia.
| | - Rob Sanson-Fisher
- Health Behaviour Research Group, Priority Research Centre in Health Behaviour and Hunter Medical Research Institute, HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Fradgley
- Health Behaviour Research Group, Priority Research Centre in Health Behaviour and Hunter Medical Research Institute, HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia
| | - Breanne Hobden
- Health Behaviour Research Group, Priority Research Centre in Health Behaviour and Hunter Medical Research Institute, HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia
| | - Alison Zucca
- Health Behaviour Research Group, Priority Research Centre in Health Behaviour and Hunter Medical Research Institute, HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia
| | - Frans Henskens
- Distributed Computing Research Group; School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science; Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour; University of Newcastle, New South Wales, 2308, Australia
| | - Andrew Searles
- Health Research Economics, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, 2305, Australia
| | - Brad Webb
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, 2305, Australia
| | - Christopher Oldmeadow
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, 2305, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nair B(KR, Searles AM, Ling RI, Wein J, Ingham K. Workplace‐based assessment for international medical graduates: at what cost? Med J Aust 2014; 200:41-4. [DOI: 10.5694/mja13.10849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Balakrishnan (Kichu) R Nair
- Centre for Medical Professional Development, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW
| | - Andrew M Searles
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW
| | - Rod I Ling
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW
| | - Julie Wein
- Centre for Medical Professional Development, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW
| | - Kathy Ingham
- Centre for Medical Professional Development, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Accuracy of self-reports of mental health care utilization and calculated costs compared to hospital records. Psychiatry Res 2011; 185:261-8. [PMID: 20537717 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2009] [Revised: 02/04/2010] [Accepted: 04/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Assessments of service utilization is often based on self-reports. Concerns regarding the accuracy of self-reports are raised especially in mental health care. The purpose of this study was to analyze the accuracy of self-reports and calculated costs of mental health services. In a prospective cohort study in Germany, self-reports regarding psychiatric inpatient and day-care use collected by telephone interviews based on the Client Socio-Demographic and Service Receipt Inventory (CSSRI) as well as calculated costs were compared to computerized hospital records. The sample consisted of patients with mental and behavioral disorders resulting from alcohol (ICD-10 F10, n=84), schizophrenia, schizophrenic and delusional disturbances (F2, n=122) and affective disorders (F3, n=124). Agreement was assessed using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), mean difference (95% confidence intervals (CI)) and the 95% limits of agreement. Predictors for disagreement were derived. Overall agreement of mean total costs was excellent (CCC=0.8432). Costs calculated based on self-reports were higher than costs calculated based on hospital records (15 EUR (95% CI -434 to 405)). Overall agreement of total costs for F2 patients was CCC=0.8651, for F3 CCC=0.7850 and for F10 CCC=0.6180. Depending on type of service, measure of service utilization and costs agreement ranged from excellent to poor and varied substantially between individuals. The number of admissions documented in hospital records was significantly associated with disagreement. Telephone interviews can be an accurate data collection method for calculating mean total costs in mental health care. In the future more standardization is needed.
Collapse
|
5
|
Patel A, Rendu A, Moran P, Leese M, Mann A, Knapp M. A comparison of two methods of collecting economic data in primary care. Fam Pract 2005; 22:323-7. [PMID: 15824056 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmi027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have been few attempts to assess alternative methods of collecting resource use data for economic evaluations. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare two methods of collecting resource use data in primary care: GPs' case records and a self-complete postal questionnaire. METHODS 303 primary care attenders were sent a postal survey, incorporating a questionnaire designed to collect service utilisation information for the previous six months. Data were also collected from GP case records. The reporting of GP visits between the two methods, and estimates of costs associated with those visits, were compared. RESULTS There was good agreement between the number of GP visits recorded on GP case records (mean 3.03) and on the CSRI (mean 2.99) (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.756). In contrast, estimates of average costs of visits from CSRI data were higher and had greater variance compared to case record-based costs (54.63 pound sterling versus 42.37 pound sterling; P = 0.003). This may be explained by differences in average visit length (11.66 versus 9.36 minutes). CONCLUSIONS This study shows good agreement between GP case records and a self-complete questionnaire for the reporting of GP visits. However, differences in costs associated with those visits arose due to differences in the method used for calculating length of visit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anita Patel
- Health Services Research Department, David Goldberg Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|