A comparison of effectiveness and cost between two models of care for individuals with schizophrenia living in Taiwan.
Schizophrenia is a chronic disease that places tremendous costs and burden on patients, families, and communities. The purpose of this study was to compare the cost and effectiveness of a hospital-based home care model and a traditional community care model for schizophrenia in Taiwan using six principles of cost-effectiveness analysis. Based on the health care provider's analytic perspective, four effectiveness indicators and four service costs were identified and measured, and the ratio of average cost value to effectiveness score for each patient was calculated. According to that ratio, the hospital-based home care model was more cost-effective. The results suggest that the hospital-based outreach home care model is a cost-effective way to care for patients and their family in the community.
Lin
E C
EC
Hung Kuang Institute of Technology, Hung Kuang, Taiwan.
Yin
T J
TJ
Kuo
B I
BI
Chang
W Y
WY
Tsai
S L
SL
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004180:Direct Service Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome