Describing Chinese hospital activity with diagnosis related groups (DRGs). A case study in Chengdu.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the applicability of an Australian casemix classification system to the description of Chinese hospital activity.


METHODS
A total of 161,478 inpatient episodes from three Chengdu hospitals with demographic, diagnosis, procedure and billing data for the year 1998/1999, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 were grouped using the Australian refined-diagnosis related groups (AR-DRGs) (version 4.0) grouper.


METHODS
Reduction in variance (R2) and coefficient of variation (CV).


RESULTS
Untrimmed reduction in variance (R2) was 0.12 and 0.17 for length of stay (LOS) and cost respectively. After trimming, R2 values were 0.45 and 0.59 for length of stay and cost respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The Australian refined DRGs provide a good basis for developing a Chinese grouper.
Gong
Zhiping
Z
School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, LaTrobe University, 29 Barwon Av. Reservoir, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia. z.gong@latrobe.edu.au
Duckett
Stephen J
SJ
Legge
David G
DG
Pei
Likun
L
D002681:China; D003361:Cost Allocation / Q000379:methods; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017050:Episode of Care; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007902:Length of Stay; D016311:Outliers, DRG; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000379:methods*