Multidimensional integrative medicine applied to outpatient cancer treatment in southern Brazil: Preliminary cost-effectiveness analysis.

Abstract

5 Background: Cost-effective analysis as part of cancer treatment decision-making. Methods: We reviewed deaths of 52 metastatic cancer patients treated with multidimensional integrative medicine (MIM) approach. Patients received standard oncologic treatment plus a MIM predefined program of emotional, cognitive and social support. The method included empathy improvement, changes on physician attitude and office environment, modulation of staff behavior supporting patient’s needs and rights, promotion of belongingness, increasing on patient’s protagonism using multimedia interactive narrative and shared decision-making. Patients were categorised according to the tumor site, pathologic, molecular and IHC characteristics, clinical stage and treatment. Observed survival was defined as the time elapsed between the detection of first metastasis and death. The observed survival for each patient was compared with the median expected survival previously reported on prospective randomised trials which had accrued patients with similar prognostic factors based on a best fit model. Treatment monthly cost for each patient was converted in American dollars (USD) on a daily exchange basis. Cost of the treatment periods were compared with those analysed in four large USA commercial managed care plans. Results: Treatment of metastatic cancer patients using MIM showed a 44% increase in median survival and a 48% decrease in cost. The estimated ICER/QALY was of 32304 USD, which represented 2.0 of Brazilian PPP. Conclusions: Despite methodological limitations, this is the first study to indicate a cost-effective survival increase in metastatic cancer patients using a MIM-behavioral modulation model. [Table: see text]