The implementation costs of an electronic prevention programme in Belgian general practice

Abstract

Introduction: Guidelines to prevent cardiovascular (CV) disease are widely available. To implement these guidelines an electronic prevention programme (EPP) with a risk calculator for general practitioners (GPs) was developed. The aim of the present study was to calculate the implementation cost per installation. Methods: This cost study is part of a larger clinical trial, studying the effects of interventions in GP-practice on the management of CV risk factors. Participating GPs were asked to install the EPP. They could take part in a group education session or receive education by e-mail, telephone or at home. After a prospective cost registration, the cost per installation and a sensitivity analysis were calculated. Results: 185 GPs participated in the study. The total implementation cost of the EPP was €83,939. As the EPP was successfully installed by 102 GPs, the mean cost equals €823 per GP. Sensitivity analyses showed a decrease in costs due to a decrease of the costs of group education and/or an increase of installations.

Conclusion: This study showed that it is possible to implement an EPP for cardiovascular prevention with an acceptable cost.

Key words::

• Costs
• medica record
• revention
• general practice

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the ‘Leerstoel De Onderlinge Ziekenkas-Preventie’ The sponsor had no involvement in the study design, the data collection and analysis, the manuscript or the submission. The authors should like to thank Pfizer Belgium for offering financial support for the technical development of the EPP. Pfizer Belgium was not involved in the study design, the content development of the EPP or in writing and submitting the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.