Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the long-term effects of a home nursing intervention on healthcare utilization and costs among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Design: A 3-year retrospective study.
Methods: Eleven COPD patients who had received home nursing intervention after hospital discharge were enrolled. We retrospectively investigated their healthcare utilization and costs for 1 year before the intervention and during 2 years of the intervention.
Findings: The number and length of hospitalizations decreased gradually from the pre-intervention period through the second year. The number of hospital and home nursing visits increased from the pre-intervention period through the first and second years. The hospitalization costs were decreased by approximately half from the pre-intervention period through the first year and from the first year through the second year. The total medical cost did not change significantly.
Conclusions and clinical relevance: Our home nursing intervention decreased the number and length of hospitalizations and the hospitalization costs; however, it did not affect the total medical cost. It is possible that the continuation of home nursing interventions may decrease the number of hospitalizations, number of home nursing visits, and the total medical cost by maintaining the health condition of patients.
Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; cost; healthcare utilization; home nursing; hospitalization.
© 2014 Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.