Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.46(4) > 1003184

Lee and Kim: Economic Effect of Home Health Care Services for Community-dwelling Vulnerable Populations

Abstract

Purpose

In this study the costs and benefits of a home health care program were examined to evaluate the economic feasibility of the program.

Methods

The study participants included 349 patients in the community who had been registered at a home health care center for 5 years. The costs and benefits of the program were analyzed using performance data and health data. The benefits were classified as the effects of pressure ulcer care, skin wound care and catheters management. The program effect was evaluated on the change of progress using transition probability. Benefits were divided into direct benefit such as the savings in medical costs and transportation costs, and indirect benefits which included saving in productivity loss and lost future income.

Results

Participants had an average of 1.82 health problems. The input cost was KRW 36.8~153.3 million, the benefit was KRW 95.4~279.7 million. Direct benefits accounted for 53.4%~81.2%, and was higher than indirect benefits. The net benefit was greater than 0 from 2006 to 2009, and then dropped below 0 in 2010.

Conclusion

The average net benefit during 5 years was over 0 and the benefit cost ratoi was over 1.00, indicating that the home health care program si economical.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Characteristics of Participants and Health Status at Initial Enrollment (N=349)

jkan-46-562-i001

*Multiple answers were allowed.

Table 2

Characteristics of Deaths (N=349)

jkan-46-562-i002
Table 3

Characteristics of Participants' Health Problem

jkan-46-562-i003

*Multiple answers were allowed.

Table 4

Effectiveness of Home Health Care Service

jkan-46-562-i004

*Prevention=33.0% [15]–incidence rate;Maintenance effect=maintenance rate–64.5% [16];Prevention of deterioration=35.5% [16]–deterioration rate; §Prevention of wound infection=19% [17]–Infection rate; ||Prevention of catheter infection=22.4% [18]–Catheter Infection rate.

Table 5

Cost–benefit Analysis of Home Care Service

jkan-46-562-i005

Notes

This manuscript is a revision of the first author's doctoral dissertation from Seoul National University.

The study was funded by the Research Grant of Hallym University.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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