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Cost‐Effectiveness Analysis of an Enteral Nutrition Protocol for Children With Common Gastrointestinal Diseases in China
Author(s) -
Yang Min,
Chen PeiYu,
Gong SiTang,
Lyman Beth,
Geng LanLan,
Liu LiYing,
Liang CuiPing,
Xu ZhaoHui,
Li HuiWen,
Fang TieFu,
Li DingYou
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607114550002
Subject(s) - medicine , parenteral nutrition , enteral administration , protocol (science) , pediatrics , emergency medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Background: A standard nutrition screening and enteral nutrition (EN) protocol was implemented in January 2012 in a tertiary children's center in China. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of a standard EN protocol in hospitalized patients. Methods : A retrospective chart review was performed in the gastroenterology inpatient unit. We included all inpatient children requiring EN from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2013, with common gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Children from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013, served as the standard EN treatment group, and those from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2011, were the control EN group. Pertinent patient information was collected. We also analyzed the length of hospital stay, cost of care, and in‐hospital infection rates. Results : The standard EN treatment group received more nasojejunal tube feedings. There was a tendency for the standard EN treatment group to receive more elemental and hydrolyzed protein formulas. Implementation of a standard EN protocol significantly reduced the time to initiate EN (32.38 ± 24.50 hours vs 18.76 ± 13.53 hours; P = .011) and the time to reach a targeted calorie goal (7.42 ± 3.98 days vs 5.06 ± 3.55 days; P = .023); length of hospital stay was shortened by 3.2 days after implementation of the standard EN protocol but did not reach statistical significance. However, the shortened length of hospital stay contributed to a significant reduction in the total cost of hospital care (13,164.12 ± 6722.95 Chinese yuan [CNY] vs 9814.96 ± 4592.91 CNY; P < .032). Conclusions : Implementation of a standard EN protocol resulted in early initiation of EN, shortened length of stay, and significantly reduced total cost of care in hospitalized children with common GI diseases.