Multisystemic Treatment of Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes: Effects on Medical Resource Utilization

Abstract

To determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive, home-based psychotherapy, could decrease rates of hospital utilization and related costs of care among adolescents with poorly controlled type diabetes. Thirty-one adolescents were randomly assigned to receive either MST or standard care. MST lasted approximately 6 months, and all participants were followed for 9 months. Rates of inpatient admissions and emergency room (ER) visits were calculated for a 9-month prestudy period and during the 9 months of study participation. The relationship between changes in inpatient admissions and changes in metabolic control was also investigated. Intervention participants had a decreasing number of inpatient admissions from the baseline period to the end of the study, whereas the number of inpatient admissions increased for controls. Use of the emergency room did not differ. Related medical charges and direct care costs were significantly lower for adolescents receiving MST. Correlational analyses conducted with a subset of participants indicated that decreases in inpatient admissions were associated with improved metabolic control for MST but not control participants. Findings suggest that MST has the potential to decrease inpatient admissions among adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes.