title: A cost analysis of inpatient compared with outpatient prostaglandin E2 cervical priming for induction of labour: results from the OPRA trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the costs of inpatient (usual care) with outpatient (intervention) care for cervical priming for induction of labour in women with healthy, low-risk pregnancies who are being induced for prolonged pregnancies or for social reasons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a randomised controlled trial at two hospitals in South Australia were matched with hospital financial data. A cost analysis comparing women randomised to inpatient care with those randomised to outpatient care was performed, with an additional analysis focusing on those who received the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 48% of women randomised into the trial did not receive the intervention. Women randomised to outpatient care had an overall cost saving of $319 per woman (95% CI -$104 to $742) as compared with women randomised to usual care. When restricted to women who actually received the intervention, in-hospital cost savings of $433 (95% CI -$282 to $1148) were demonstrated in the outpatient group. However, these savings were partially offset by the cost of an outpatient priming clinic, reducing the overall cost savings to $156 per woman.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall cost savings were not statistically significant in women who were randomised to or received the intervention. However, the trend in cost savings favoured outpatient priming.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. Email:
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Adelson
authors.forename: Garry R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Wedlock
authors.forename: Chris S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bryce
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Turnbull
mesh_terms: D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000187:drug effects; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D017046:Cost Savings; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000379:methods; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000191:economics*; D010045:Outpatients; D010120:Oxytocics; D011247:Pregnancy; D013021:South Australia
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D015232:Dinoprostone