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Is an expanded nurse role economically viable?
Taewha Lee1, Il-Sun Ko, Seok Hee Jeong
1College of Nursing, Nursing Policy Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. twlee5@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|May 14, 2004
Summary
Community health practitioners (CHPs) in Korea provide cost-effective primary healthcare in remote areas. Their services are significantly more economical than physician-led care, validating their crucial role.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Public Health Policy
- Health Economics
Background:
- Community Health Practitioners (CHPs) in Korea are nurses providing primary care in underserved regions.
- CHPs have demonstrated effectiveness in improving rural health outcomes.
- Recent economic challenges and healthcare restructuring prompted a re-evaluation of CHP programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the services offered by CHPs in primary healthcare.
- To evaluate the economic impact of CHP services using cost-minimization analysis.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, descriptive-correlational study design was employed.
- A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 600 randomly selected CHPs.
- A response rate of 45.3% (272 participants) was achieved.
Main Results:
- A significant cost difference was found between care models with and without CHPs (t = -6.833, P < 0.001).
- CHP services were approximately half the cost of physician-provided care, with an average cost ratio of 2.16.
- The cost-minimization analysis indicated substantial economic benefits of CHP services.
Conclusions:
- CHP services demonstrate economic validity within the public healthcare sector.
- CHP services are more effective and economical compared to physician-only models or no specific service model.
- The findings support the continued role and integration of CHPs in primary healthcare delivery.