Cost-effectiveness research in elderly residents in long-term care: prevention is better than cure, but not always cheaper
Achterberg, W.P.; Gussekloo, J.; van den Hout, W.B.
Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde 159: A8903
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 25970676 Document Number: 682807
Cost-effectiveness research in elderly residents in long-term care facilities is based on general principals of cost-effectiveness research; these have been developed primarily from the perspective of relatively healthy adults in curative medicine. These principals are, however, inadequate when evaluating interventions for the fragile elderly in long-term care, both in terms of the value attached to the health of patients and to the specific decision-making context of the institution. Here we discuss the pitfalls of cost-effectiveness research in long-term care facilities, illustrated by two prevention interventions for prevalent conditions in nursing homes: pressure ulcers and urinary tract infections. These turned out to be effective, but not cost-effective.