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Cost‐effectiveness of nursing interventions in a post‐stroke eating training programme—a pilot study
Author(s) -
Jacobsson C.,
Lindholm L.,
Waldau S.,
Engström B.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2834.2000.00193.x
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , nursing , medicine , nursing interventions classification , intervention (counseling) , quality of life (healthcare) , cost–benefit analysis , health care , stroke (engine) , nursing research , cost effectiveness , quality (philosophy) , risk analysis (engineering) , mechanical engineering , epistemology , engineering , economics , biology , economic growth , ecology , philosophy
Background Despite the fact that nursing staff make up the single largest cost item of the health care, calculations are lacking regarding the utility and costs of nursing care. Aim The aim of the present pilot study is to test the usefulness of the cost‐utility analysis with regard to nursing interventions by applying it to a post‐stroke eating programme. Method Health‐related quality‐of‐life improvements, costs and savings as results of eating training were calculated in 11 patient cases. Results The analysis shows that eating training following stroke is an extremely cost effective intervention. Health‐related quality of life was improved in nine patients and the costs involved were comparatively low. When the savings that result from the removal of gastric tubes were also taken into account, the training programme saved more than it cost. The example shows that it is poosible to apply health‐economic methods to analyse nursing interventions. Conclusions The pilot study pointed to the need of further research in the following areas: the efficacy in the eating training programme must be verified in a controlled trial; the methods for calculating QALY‐scores must be better adapted to the goals of nursing care, and; the ethical foundation for priority setting in health economics as well as in nursing care is an important issue to address.