JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital peer-support apps can support people with mental ill-health and are an alternative option to traditional NHS resources. Tellmi is a peer-support app for CYP with mental ill-health.

Objective:

This paper sought to create an early economic evaluation of Tellmi.

Methods:

A questionnaire was shared with Tellmi users to collect demographic data and establish healthcare resource use over a period of three months. This informed the development of an early cost-comparison model, which captures the difference in costs and resource use of CYP who use Tellmi compared with the standard of care. A one-year time horizon was used, and the model was built from an NHS perspective. Deterministic sensitivity analysis was conducted to highlight which parameters are key drivers.

Results:

The survey collected 283 responses from Tellmi users. There were significantly fewer visits to A&E, GP’s and school nurse/counsellor after use of Tellmi for more than one month compared with the standard of care. An early cost calculator model was built to estimate the impact of Tellmi on NHS England. The model estimated that using Tellmi led to a cost saving of £159 (including Tellmi’s basic service cost) to £214 per person (excluding Tellmi’s basic service cost).

Conclusions:

This study indicates that Tellmi has the potential to be cost saving to the NHS. We recommend further evidence collection including medium- to long-term follow up to reduce the uncertainty in future evaluations of Tellmi. This study indicates that Tellmi has the potential to be cost saving to the NHS. We recommend further evidence collection including medium- to long-term follow up to reduce the uncertainty in future evaluations of Tellmi.