[Health economical benefits of personalized hospital treatment of chronic bronchitis]

One hundred patients (aged 48 to 89) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were allocated to receive either "personalized hospital practice" (PHP), which includes training in aspects of their disease, or standard hospital practice. Changes in "consumption" of health services per patient from one year before until one year after the intervention admission were evaluated in 82 (PHP group 42, controls 40). The increase in consumption of health services after intervention was on average kr 15.298 per patient per year less in the PHP group than in the control group (p = 0.048). Consumption of general practitioner services was significantly increased in the control group compared with the PHP group (mean 95% confidence limits) kr 1346 (549-2143) versus -89 (-423-245) per patient per year, p = 0.001). PHP reduces the consumption of health services by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, probably by increasing patients knowledge of disease and their ability to manage themselves.