Cost-Effectiveness of Guideline-Based Care for Workers with Mental Health Problems

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an activating guideline-based care (GBC) by occupational physicians (OPs). METHODS: An economic evaluation was conducted in a randomized controlled trial with police workers on sick leave due to mental health problems (n = 240). In the intervention group trained OPs provided GBC, compared with usual care with easy access to a psychologist. Sick leave data and health care costs were gathered after 1-year follow-up. Analyses comprised bootstrap techniques, cost-effectiveness planes, and acceptability curves. RESULTS: Health care utilization costs (euro574.532 in total) were significantly lower in the intervention group (mean difference -euro520; 95% CI -euro980 to euro59), whereas there were no significant differences in days of sick leave and productivity loss costs. CONCLUSIONS: GBC could be cost-effective, as lower direct costs lead to equal treatment outcomes of workers with common mental disorders.