Economic Evaluation in Neurological Physiotherapy: A Systematic Review.

Autores de IIS La Fe

• Raquel Faubel Cava

  Autor

Participantes ajenos a IIS La Fe

• García-Álvarez D
• Sempere-Rubio N

Grupos

• Unidad Mixta de Investigacion en TICs aplicadas a la reingeniería en procesos sociosanitarios (ERPSS)

  Investigador Principal

  María Eugenia Gas López

Abstract

This systematic review was carried out to compile and assess original studies that included economic evaluations of neurological physiotherapy interventions. A thorough search of PubMED, Cochrane and Embase was developed using keywords such as health economics, neurological physiotherapy and cost analysis, and studies published during the last six-year term were selected. A total of 3124 studies were analyzed, and 43 were eligible for inclusion. Among the studies analyzed, 48.8% were interventions for stroke patients, and 13.9% were focused on Parkinson's disease. In terms of the countries involved, 46.5% of the studies included were developed in the UK, and 13.9% were from the USA. The economic analysis most frequently used was cost-utility, implemented in 22 of the studies. A cost-effectiveness analysis was also developed in nine of those studies. The distribution of studies including an economic evaluation in this discipline showed a clear geographic dominance in terms of the pathology. A clear upward trend was noted in the economic evaluation of interventions developed in neurological physiotherapy. However, these studies should be promoted for their use in evidence-based clinical practice and decision-making.

Keywords

• cost-benefit analysis, economics, medical, neurology, physical therapy modalities