A cost comparison study to review community versus acute hospital models of nursing care delivered to oncology patients.
PURPOSE
Ireland's Sláintecare health plan is placing an increased focus on primary care. A community oncology nursing programme was developed to train community nurses to deliver care in the community. While the initial pilot was proven to be clinically safe, no cost evaluation was carried out. This study aims to compare the costs of providing cancer support services in a day-ward versus in the community.


METHODS
183 interventions (40 in day-ward and 143 in community) were timed and costed using healthcare professional salaries and the Human Capital method.


RESULTS
From the healthcare provider perspective, the day-ward was a significantly cheaper option by an average of €17.13 (95% CI €13.72 - €20.54, p < 0.001). From the societal perspective, the community option was cheaper by an average of €2.77 (95% CI -€3.02 - €8.55), although this was a non-significant finding. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the community service may be significantly cheaper from the societal perspective.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the demand for cost-viable options for primary care services, this programme may represent a national option for cancer care in Ireland when viewed from the societal perspective.
["O'Mahony|Cian|C|", 'Murphy|Kevin D|KD|', "O'Brien|Gary L|GL|", 'Aherne|Joe|J|', 'Hanan|Terry|T|', 'Mullen|Louise|L|', 'Keane|Maccon|M|', 'Donnellan|Paul|P|', 'Davey|Claire|C|', 'Browne|Helen|H|', 'Malee|Kathleen|K|', 'Byrne|Stephen|S|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis D064648:Critical Care Nursing D005260:Female D006761:Hospitals D006764:Hospitals, Community D006801:Humans D007494:Ireland D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009369:Neoplasms D009859:Oncology Nursing D011320:Primary Health Care
Primary care Cancer Community cancer care Cost analysis Micro-costing