Cost Information on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment Decisions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Clinical Trial

Official title:

Does Societal Cost Information Affect Patient Decision-Making in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03880812
• Other study ID #: 2018-09-0067
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 24, 2018
• Est. completion date: December 26, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: March 2019
• Source: University of Texas at Austin
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the provision of societal cost information affects patients' decisions whether or not to undergo surgical management in carpal tunnel syndrome, using a hypothetical scenario.

Description:

Given the large societal costs of carpal tunnel surgery and existence of a relatively inexpensive treatment option, carpal tunnel release provides fertile ground for testing whether societal costs can influence patient decision-making in hand surgery. Such work would inform future efforts to reduce societal healthcare costs by elucidating whether appeals to societal cost are effective at driving stewardship of limited healthcare resources at the patient level. In this study, the investigators aimed to answer this question by presenting participants with a hypothetical scenario in which the participants had to choose between surgery and wrist bracing for carpal tunnel syndrome. Participants were randomized into two cohorts and societal cost information was presented to the intervention group. The effect of societal cost information on treatment choice is assessed, along with participants' healthcare attitudes.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 184
• Est. completion date: December 26, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: December 26, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 89 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• English speaking upper extremity patients

• Nontraumatic condition

Exclusion Criteria:

• Traumatic condition

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Syndrome

Intervention

Other:
• Societal cost
Annual societal cost information to the US for carpal tunnel release surgery was displayed.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	ATX Ortho	Austin	Texas
United States	Austin Regional Clinic	Austin	Texas
United States	HTB Musculoskeletal Institute	Austin	Texas
United States	Orthopedic Specialists of Austin	Austin	Texas
United States	Seton Institute for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery	Austin	Texas
United States	Texas Orthopedics	Austin	Texas

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Texas at Austin	Stanford University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Number of participants choosing carpal tunnel release or splinting	Choice for carpal tunnel release over splinting. All participants were presented a hypothetical case of mild carpal tunnel syndrome. The scenario described (nocturnal) symptoms of numbness and tingling and two treatment choices: carpal tunnel release or wrist splinting. In addition, participants were randomized to review total annual societal cost information for CTR procedures in the United States. After reviewing the case, participants were asked to indicate if they would choose surgery (more expensive) or splinting (less expensive). Scoring was measured on a 6-point ordinal Likert scale (ranging from 1="Definitely not" to 6="Definitely").	Immediately after reading the hypothetical scenario