Economic evaluation of a geriatric day hospital: cost-benefit analysis based on functional autonomy changes.
OBJECTIVE
to investigate whether the benefits related to a geriatric day hospital programme exceeded the costs, using a cost-benefit analysis based on changes in functional autonomy.


METHODS
a quasi-experimental design with a historical cohort as comparison group.


METHODS
the geriatric day hospital programme at the Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute in the Province of Quebec, Canada.


METHODS
151 geriatric day hospital patients.


METHODS
after admission to and at discharge from the geriatric day hospital programme, functional autonomy was assessed by a trained nurse using the Functional Autonomy Measurement System. Based on financial reports, costs associated with resources consumed at the geriatric day hospital programme by each subject were established. The benefit in dollars per day was estimated with a societal perspective through regression equations based on functional autonomy changes related to the geriatric day hospital programme. A model for spreading the benefit per day was proposed: the median time to institutionalisation or death.


RESULTS
for every dollar invested in the geriatric day hospital programme, the benefit for the health system was $2.14 (95% confidence interval: $1.72-$2.56).


CONCLUSIONS
based on our sample of Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute patients, the benefit related to the geriatric day hospital programme seems to exceed the costs.
Tousignant
Michel
M
Gerontology and Geriatrics Research Centre, Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute, Quebec, Canada. michel.tousignant@usherbrooke.ca
Hébert
Réjean
R
Desrosiers
Johanne
J
Hollander
Marcus J
MJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000191:economics*; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*