Dataset Information

Primary-care-based episodes of care and their costs in a three-month follow-up in Finland.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To explore patient characteristics, resource use, and costs related to different episodes of care (EOC) in Finnish health care.

Design

Data were collected during a three-month prospective, non-randomized follow-up study (Effective Health Centre) using questionnaires and an electronic health record.

Setting

Three primary health care practices in Pirkanmaa, Finland.

Subjects

Altogether 622 patients were recruited during a one-week period. Inclusion criteria: the patient had a doctor's or nurse's appointment on the recruiting day and agreed to participate. Exclusion criteria: patients visiting a specialized health guidance clinic for pregnant women, children, and mothers.

Main outcome measures

Patient characteristics, resource use, and costs based on the ICPC-2 EOC classification.

Results

On average, the patients had 1.22 EOCs during the three months. Patient characteristics and resource use differed between the EOC chapters. Chapter L, "Musculoskeletal", had the most episodes (17%). The most common (8%) single EOC was "upper respiratory infection". The mean cost of an episode (COE) was €389.56 (standard error 61.11) and the median COE was €165.00 (interquartile range €118.46-288.56) during the three-month follow-up. The most expensive chapter was K, "Circulatory", with a mean COE of €909.85. The most expensive single COE was in chapter K, €32 545.56. The most expensive 1% of the COEs summed up covered 36% of the total COEs.

Conclusion

Patient characteristics, resource use, and costs differed between the ICPC-2 chapters, which could be taken into account in service planning and pricing. Future studies should incorporate more specific diagnoses, larger data sets, and longer follow-up times. Key points The most common episodes were under the ICPC-2 "Musculoskeletal" chapter, but the highest mean and single-episode costs were related to the "Circulatory" chapter. The mean (median) cost of episodes that started in primary care was €390 (€165) during the three-month follow-up. Patient characteristics, resource use, and costs differed significantly between the ICPC-2 chapters. The most expensive 1% of the episodes covered 36% of the total costs of all the episodes.

SUBMITTER: Heinonen J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4750738 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Primary-care-based episodes of care and their costs in a three-month follow-up in Finland.

Heinonen J J Koskela T H TH Soini E E Ryynänen O P OP

Scandinavian journal of primary health care 20150101 4

<h4>Objective</h4>To explore patient characteristics, resource use, and costs related to different episodes of care (EOC) in Finnish health care.<h4>Design</h4>Data were collected during a three-month prospective, non-randomized follow-up study (Effective Health Centre) using questionnaires and an electronic health record.<h4>Setting</h4>Three primary health care practices in Pirkanmaa, Finland.<h4>Subjects</h4>Altogether 622 patients were recruited during a one-week period. Inclusion criteria: ...[more]

PMID: 26683288

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Dataset Information

Primary-care-based episodes of care and their costs in a three-month follow-up in Finland.

Objective

Design

Setting

Subjects

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Primary-care-based episodes of care and their costs in a three-month follow-up in Finland.

Similar Datasets

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