Comparison of direct medical care costs between patients receiving care in a designated palliative care unit and the usual care units
Issued Date
2022-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17437555
eISSN
17437563
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85141397025
Pubmed ID
36333492
Journal Title
Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology (2022)
Suggested Citation
Chanthong P., Punlee K., Kowkachaporn P., Intharakosum A., Nuanming P. Comparison of direct medical care costs between patients receiving care in a designated palliative care unit and the usual care units. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology (2022). doi:10.1111/ajco.13882 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/87403
Title
Comparison of direct medical care costs between patients receiving care in a designated palliative care unit and the usual care units
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Aim: The need for palliative services is increasing throughout Thailand. A few palliative care units have been established in the nation so far. An economic evaluation of palliative care units has never been explored. This study compared between the medical costs of terminally ill patients receiving palliative care in a palliative care unit and the usual care units during their final admissions. Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study comparing the costs of care for patients who died in a tertiary hospital. The study group comprised patients who died in a palliative care unit, then matched with deceased patients from other units by diagnosis-related groups. Patients not indicating of having received palliative care in the medical records were excluded. The direct medical costs of the patients’ care and their data were collected from the finance department database and by medical chart review. Data were entered into the SPSS statistical database. The costs of the control group were calculated from the day when palliative care was initiated. Results: The total cost of care was significantly lower in the palliative care unit by 45 percent. The cost reduction notably was from the shorter length of stay and lower expenditure on medication and investigations in the palliative care unit. The utilization of aggressive treatment was higher in the usual units. Conclusions: The palliative care unit was associated with cost savings in caring for terminally ill patients in a tertiary hospital in Thailand.