title: Time savings associated with C.E.R.A. once monthly: a time-and-motion study in hemodialysis centers in five European countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This time-and-motion study aimed to quantify healthcare personnel time associated with routine anemia-management tasks for maintenance therapy with C.E.R.A. (continuous erythropoietin receptor activator) that treats anemia with once-monthly injections versus other erythropoiesis-stimulating agents ('Other ESAs'), including shorter-acting ESAs (epoetin alfa, epeotin beta) and darbepoetin alfa.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a non-interventional, observational study where patients were treated for anemia according to individual center practices. Time taken to complete frequent anemia-management tasks for both groups (C.E.R.A. vs. 'Other ESAs') was recorded and potential annual time savings per patient and per center following assumed 100% uptake of C.E.R.A. once monthly were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 'Other ESAs', the average total time spent per patient per year on frequent anemia management-related tasks ranged from 48 minutes in Spain to 265 minutes in Poland. For C.E.R.A. once monthly, the average total time spent per patient per year ranged from 12 minutes in Spain to 39 minutes in Poland, a reduction in actual time spent of 76-89% versus 'Other ESAs'. 100% adoption of C.E.R.A. once monthly may result in average annual time savings of 26-553 hours, a reduction of 67-95% depending on center size and frequency distribution of 'Other ESAs'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to variability in treatment practices between centers (differences in task, description and frequency distribution of 'Other ESAs') and the small numbers of centers participating in each country, it is difficult to generalize annual per patient time results to reflect each country. Per center results should be interpreted with caution as they were derived based on specific center sizes that may not reflect typical center sizes in the country.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adoption of C.E.R.A. once monthly could offer substantial time savings on frequent anemia management-related tasks versus 'Other ESAs'; allowing re-allocation of scarce resources to other aspects of patient care.
authors: United BioSource Corporation, Barcelona, Spain. erwin.decock@unitedbiosource.com
authors: Erwin
authors: E
authors: De Cock
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Dellanna
authors: Karim
authors: K
authors: Khellaf
authors: Wieslaw
authors: W
authors: Klatko
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Maduell
authors: Mireia
authors: M
authors: Raluy-Callado
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Villa
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005060:Europe; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; C508420:continuous erythropoietin receptor activator; D004921:Erythropoietin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols