[A comparison of cost between home care and hospital care-according to subject's general characteristics].
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to compare direct cost and indirect cost between home care and hospital care according to subject's characteristics.


METHODS
The subjects of this study were patients with cerebrovascular disease. They were 50 patients in six university hospitals and 49 in four home care centers. Data were collected by using two type of questionnaires and reviewing medical records, home care service records and medical-fee claims from April 4th to September 13th, 2001.


RESULTS
The results were as follows; First, there was a statistically significant difference of direct cost between home care and hospital care, however, there was not a statistically significant difference of indirect cost. Second, according to subject's characteristics, six variables had statistically significant differences; sex, age, marital status, economy, job and diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
It was found that cost-saving effect of home care was affected by subject's characteristic factors. More study needs to be done to develop a more detailed selection criteria for home care subjects.
College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, Korea. lim20712@hanmail.net
Ji-Young
JY
Lim