The economic burden of outpatient appointments following paediatric fractures.
Injury
; 47(7): 1410-3, 2016 Jul.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27138840
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Paediatric fractures are common and frequently followed-up. The aim of this study is to quantify the private costs for the affected families, as well as the costs for society due to paediatric fracture clinic follow-up appointments. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
295 paired parent and surgeon questionnaire regarding the cost related to a scheduled follow-up appointment for an upper limb fracture in children aged 6-13 years were collected prospectively over 7 months. In addition, the medical appropriateness of the appointment and whether or not the control changed the management of the fracture was investigated.RESULTS:
The direct cost of attending a paediatric upper limb fracture clinic was estimated to 48.5 while the cost for society due to productivity loss was 78.4 per consultation. In 89.2% of the cases the surgeons found the appointment necessary, it was deemed unnecessary or inconclusive in 10.6%. The treatment plan was altered in 6.8%, and an extra follow up was scheduled in 5.8%. Fractures of the clavicle were most often regarded as unnecessary to follow up clinically or radiologically by the surgeons.DISCUSSION:
The direct cost for the affected families and the costs for society due to productivity loss of paediatric fracture follow-up appointments are noticeable. Although most patients and surgeons deem these controls as valuable, they lead to a change in treatment plan in only 12.6% of the cases. A stringent management protocol can safely reduce the number of clinical and radiographical follow-ups.Mots clés
Texte intégral:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Services de consultations externes des hôpitaux
/
Pédiatrie
/
Fractures osseuses
Type d'étude:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
/
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limites:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Pays/Région comme sujet:
Europa
Langue:
En
Journal:
Injury
Année:
2016
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
Norvège