Cost-Effective Quality of Life Improvement While Reducing Health Care Professional Burnout With an AI-Driven Intervention for Personalized Medicine

Abstract

Background and Aims:

Burnout affects >50% of physicians and nurses. Spotlight-AQ is a personalized digital health platform designed to improve routine diabetes visits. We assessed cost-effectiveness, visit length, and association with health care professional (HCP) burnout.

Materials and Methods:

Complete case within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis embedded within a multicenter, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Adults with diabetes were recruited from primary and secondary care. Intervention group participants completed the Spotlight-AQ pre-clinic assessment before each routine visit. Health status was assessed with EQ-5D-5L to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Client Service Receipt Inventory measured downstream resource use. Total costs and QALYs were calculated using baseline-controlled seemingly unrelated regression with bootstrapping. Haemoglobin (HbA_1c) data were collected. Health care professionals completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory at baseline and study end.

Results:

A total of 98 adults (49 intervention) and 18 HCPs participated. Total costs: £243 (US$310) intervention arm versus £230 (US$293) control arm; incremental cost: £13 (US$16). Total QALYs: 0.362 intervention arm and 0.358 control arm, with an incremental QALY: 0.004. Spotlight-AQ intervention dominated usual care with a 68% probability of cost-effectiveness at a threshold of £30 000 (US$38 294) per QALY gained. Health care professionals reported reduced burnout, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a greater sense of personal achievement. Doctors are more so than nurses.

Conclusion:

Spotlight-AQ has demonstrated cost-effective while delivering improved care and reduced HCP burnout.

Trial Registration:

ISRCTN15511689, registration date: November 1, 2021.