Economic evaluation of telephone-based weight loss support for patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial

Table 4 Unit costs used for valuing resource use

Cost type	Unit of measure	Unit cost ($)^a,b
Intervention costs per participant (1)
Healthcare services ^c
General practitioner (3)	Consult	37.05
Medical specialist (4)	Consult	401.92
Chiropractor (2)	Consult	76.6–90.4
Physiotherapy (2)	Consult	76.6–90.4
Dietitian (2)	Consult	76.6–90.4
Other allied health (2)(3)	Consult	76.6–175.64
Massage therapy (2)	Consult	58.75–72.9
Alternative medicine (2)	Consult	75–128.75
Emergency (4)	Visit	456.05–714
Hospital admission (4)	Admit	4422.31
Spinal injection (3)	Injection	62.50–466.67
Imaging (3)	Test	177.45–179.20
Community services (2)	Consult	47.36–287
Orthopaedic surgeon consultation (4)	Consult	238.39
Pain clinic (3)	Consult	153.15
Medications (5)(6)
Absenteeism costs (7)

Sources of unit costs: (1) Bottom-up micro-costed; (2) Australian Medical Association; (3) Medicare Benefits Scheme; (4) Costs of Care Standards; (5) Australian pharmaceutical benefits scheme; (6) Online Australian pharmaceutical websites; (7) Average hourly income from the Australian Bureau of Statistics
^aCosts are expressed in 2016 Australian Dollars (AUD)
^bSome unit costs are reported in ranges due to difference in Initial versus follow-up consults and/or variation in healthcare services included under the same cost type
^cEmergency refers to participants who presented to emergency department but were not admitted. Other allied health professional includes Back Fit. Alternative medicine refers to acupuncture. Community services refer to Novocare (homecare and transport) and home care

ISSN: 1471-2458