A Comparison of Health Care Expenditure of Cancer Terminal Stage Care Between Hospice and Nonhospice Patients

• Main Authors: Nan-Ying Hu, 胡楠英
• Other Authors: Chia-Chin Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/12103031159258266269

碩士 === 臺北醫學大學 === 護理學研究所 === 97 === Objective：The health policy analysis have noted the high cost of the care for the terminal stage patients, and that for the cancer patients is evenhigher. Cancer has become the leading cause of the death in Taiwan since 1982,and cancer deaths have significantly increased in recent years. The purpose of this study is to compare the expenditures of hospice and nonhospice cares of the terminal stage cancer patients. Methods：The population of the study included all the 2,813 cancerous deaths in Taiwan between January and December, 2005-2007. The data released from the National Health Research Institutes for the inpatient expenditures by admission files were compared .The subjects were divided into twocategories, the hospice and nonhospice medical costs in the terminal stage cancer patients. Results：Among the 2,813 cancer deaths, 545 of them chose hospice cares which made up 19.4% of the cases. The adjusted relationship between hospitalization costs and the use of hospice care. It can be seen from this analysis that 62.6 %. The study disclosed that the interval ofhospice stay for the terminal cancer patient is shorter, but the cost of the stay is cheaper, and is lesser by 27.1%. Conclusion：We come to the conclusion that the hospice care for the terminal stage cancer patient has cost benefit. However, the acceptance rate is low which makes up only 19.4% of the case. We, therefore, suggest that the governmentally support in this very aspect is essential, as well as the development of hospice care for the terminal stage cancer patients.