Korean J Med.  2019 Jun;94(3):273-280. 10.3904/kjm.2019.94.3.273.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Hospice-Palliative Care for Adults with Terminal Cancer in South Korea

• Ju YJ
• Kim W
• Choy YS
• Lee JE
• Lee SA
• Jang J
• Park EC

• KMID: 2449425
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2019.94.3.273

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Although there is growing interest in hospice-palliative care, little information is available on the effects of such care in South Korea. Addressing this research gap, i.e., determining the cost-effectiveness of hospice-palliative care in South Korea, will help guide policy. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness analysis of hospice-palliative care in adults diagnosed with terminal cancer.
METHODS
We used a Markov model to construct a decision tree, for an analysis comparing the general ward with the hospice-palliative ward in terms of patient quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Cost and quality of life were estimated based on published Korean studies. Cost-effectiveness was calculated as the incremental cost relative to the incremental effect. Additionally, a one-way sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the results.
RESULTS
Hospice-palliative ward care was more cost-effective than general ward care. The incremental cost was 290,401 Korean won (KRW) and the incremental effect was −0.25. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was −1,174,045 KRW. A similar pattern of results was obtained in the sensitivity analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that hospice-palliative ward care is more cost-effective than general ward care.

Keyword

Cost-benefit analysis; Hospice care; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Cost-Benefit Analysis*
Decision Trees
Hospice Care
Humans
Korea*
Patients' Rooms
Quality of Life