title: Multifaceted impact evaluation of a day hospital compared to hospitalization on symptoms, social participation, service satisfaction and costs associated to service use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared clinical and functional changes, satisfaction with services and costs associated to service use, in participants treated in a day hospital for adults and seniors organized by diagnostic groups, with clients hospitalised.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental design was used. The experimental group was composed of clients (N = 40) treated in a day hospital. The comparison group included clinically and demographically similar clients hospitalised in the same institution (N = 13). Outcomes were symptoms, social participation, self-esteem, service satisfaction, utilization and associated costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the index intervention, the level of improvement was significantly greater in the day hospital group regarding symptoms (P = 0.047), self-esteem (P = 0.01) and social participation (accomplishment: P = 0.02; satisfaction: P = 0.008). Following discharge, there was no significant difference in the level of change between the two groups on all variables. Day hospital participants were significantly more satisfied of several dimensions of services (P ≤ 0.01). Comparison of total mean costs of services used 6 months before and after index treatment showed a cost reduction of 38% in the day hospital group and 7% in the hospitalisation group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Day hospitals organized by diagnostic groups lead to positive clinical and economical outcomes over time.
authors: École de Réadaptation, Université de Sherbrooke and Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine, Québec, Canada. nadine.lariviere@USherbrooke.ca
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Larivière
authors: Johanne
authors: J
authors: Desrosiers
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Tousignant
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Boyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000191:economics*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000191:economics*; D012649:Self Concept; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome