AIMS: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an intervention substituting physicians with nurse specialists. BACKGROUND:     Increasing populations of @entity1 with @entity6 in most Western countries require creative solutions that give high-quality chronic care while controlling costs. Instigating nurse specialists as a substitute for physicians yields positive results in this area. Research about such interventions in a hospital-based setting is limited. METHODS:     This paper is a report of a study of a randomized, non-blinded clinical trial including @entity1 with @entity2175 . In the intervention group nurse specialists were the central carers, providing care that conformed to a preset protocol. @entity1 were included between 2004 and 2007. Costs, quality of life and adverse events were measured, cost-effect ratios and incremental cost-effect ratios were calculated based on health-resource utilization rates, corresponding market prices and national tariffs from 2007. RESULTS:     Health related quality of life scores did not differ significantly between the control and the intervention group. In the intervention group, fewer @entity1 were hospitalized and fewer side effects from drugs were reported compared to controls. Nurse specialists as central care givers generated a modest reduction in costs per quality adjusted life year gained compared to usual care. CONCLUSION:     Nurse specialists give @entity6 care that is similar to care provided by physicians in terms of quality of life and economic value. Instigating a nurse specialist as central carer yields opportunities to generate cost savings. Developing interventions which also focus on prevention of complications is recommended when aiming for long-term organisational cost savings.

The cost-effectiveness of substituting physicians with XXXX nurse specialists: a randomized controlled trial with 2-year follow-up.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'people'] @entity6 :: ('MESH:D003920', 'Disease') :: ['diabetes'] @entity2175 :: ('MESH:D003924', 'Disease') :: ['diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2']
@entity6 :: (MESH:D003920,Disease) :: ['diabetes']
