Eight-year post-trial follow-up of health care and long-term care costs of tele-based health coaching.

Abstract

To evaluate the long-term effect of telephone health coaching on health care and long-term care (LTC) costs in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) data were linked to Finnish national health and social care registries and electronic health records (EHR). Post-trial eight-year economic evaluation was conducted. A total of 1,535 patients (≥45years) were randomized to the intervention (n=1034) and control groups (n=501). The intervention group received monthly telephone health coaching for 12months. Usual health care and LTC were provided for both groups. Intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant change in total health and long-term care costs (intervention effect €1248 [3 percent relative reduction], CI -6347 to 2217) in the intervention compared to the control group. There were also no significant changes among subgroups of patients with T2D or CAD. Health coaching had a nonsignificant effect on health care and long-term care costs in the 8-year follow-up among patients with T2D or CAD. More research is needed to study, which patient groups, at which state of the disease trajectory of T2D and cardiovascular disease, would best benefit from health coaching.