Cost-effectiveness of a corticosteroid injection versus exercise therapy for shoulder pain in general practice (SIX-Shoulder Study): a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Shoulder pain often results in functional limitations leading to substantial societal and healthcare costs. Guidelines recommend a corticosteroid injection or exercise therapy, but long-term comparative cost-effectiveness remains unclear. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of these two treatments over 12 months in patients with shoulder pain presenting in Dutch primary care.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with patients consulting for a new episode of shoulder pain. Participants were randomly assigned to a corticosteroid injection or a 12-week physiotherapist-led exercise therapy program. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The primary outcome was incremental costs per quality-adjusted

SUBMITTER: Versloot AHC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12620349 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature