BACKGROUND New pharmacological therapies are challenging the healthcare systems, and there is an increasing need to assess their therapeutic value in relation to existing alternatives as well as their potential budget impact. Consequently, new models to introduce drugs in healthcare are urgently needed. In the metropolitan health region of Stockholm, Sweden, a model has been developed including...

BACKGROUND Expenditure on medications for highly prevalent chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM) can result in financial impoverishment. People in developing countries and in low socioeconomic status groups are particularly vulnerable. China and India currently hold the world's two largest DM populations. Both countries are ageing and undergoing rapid economic development, urbanisat...

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a common condition that impacts significantly on healthcare expenditure. Its optimal management, however, remains a subject of considerable controversy. The proven safety and efficacy of minimal access video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has changed the way we manage this condition. We present VATS pleurodesis utilizing the endoscopic stapling technique for the ma...

ABBREVIATIONS. MEPS, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey; HCUP, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project; AHCPR, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research; HC, Household Component; MPC, Medical Provider Component; IC, Insurance Component; ICD-9-CM, International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification; SID, State Inpatient Databases; NIS, Nationwide Inpatient Sample; AHA, A...

In recent years, healthcare expenditure has come under increasing scrutiny in France and progressively restrictive budgetary measures have been implemented in order to contain growing spending. In this context, health economic assessment has gained a more central role for both public and industry interests as a means to support Market Access negotiations and to best guide resource allocation ch...

Objective To assess trends in the perception of quality and safety between 2009 and 2013 in the European Union (EU). Design We analysed data from waves 72.2 and 80.2 of the Eurobarometer survey. Multilevel logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic factors and country-level health expenditure were fitted to assess changes between 2009 and 2013 in each of the assessed outcomes. ...

INTRODUCTION The current literature in Australia demonstrates that there are variations in access and outcomes in perinatal care based on socioeconomic factors. However, little has been done looking at the level of out-of-pocket healthcare costs associated with perinatal care. The primary aim of this project will be to quantify health service use and out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure associa...

Healthcare and Social Care are unique domains in terms of cultural importance, economic magnitude and complexity. On a cultural level, the level of advancement of a society is often measured in terms of protection of the less able. In economic terms, for 2009, total expenditure on healthcare in the United States was 2.6 trillion USD or 17.4% of the GDP1. Total expenditure on social care was 2.9...

Healthcare systems in many developed countries are rapidly approaching a crisis point, due to an aging population, an increase of chronic diseases, healthcare costs consuming an increasing share of the government expenditure, and the dwindling pool of healthcare professionals. One solution to address these challenges is to empower health consumers to better manage their health. Consumer Health ...

Aim: Health anxiety, also known as hypochondriasis, is classifiable as an anxiety disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between health anxiety and healthcare costs. Method: Participants - 100 Japanese individuals from the general population with chronic health problems and 100 without chronic health problems - were recruited via the Internet. They completed self-report...