Economic Evaluation of Home Care Versus Hospital Care for Patients With Terminal-Stage Malignant Neoplasms

Home care is implemented internationally on a large scale. However, in Greece, home care services are underdeveloped, especially in public sector. The economic evaluation of home care for patients with terminal-stage malignant neoplasms and the comparison with the cost of hospital care. A socioeconomic evaluation was conducted comparing the cost of home care with the cost of hospital care for patients with terminal-stage malignant neoplasms. The study population included 66 patients in home care group and 64 patients in hospital care group. Both medical cost of care and carers' lost productivity were evaluated. The 3-month medical cost of home care was estimated at (sic)2424.3 per patient, while the corresponding cost in hospital care group was (sic)6665.4. The monthly carers' lost productivity in home care group was estimated at (sic)523.9 per patient (6.7 days out of work), while in hospital care group it was (sic)1071.3 (13.7 days out of work). Home care provides services at lower cost compared to hospital care and contributes in cost containment of public health expenditure.