OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine if an accelerated treatment protocol administered to acute asthmatics presenting to a Hospital Emergency Department Observation Unit (EDOU) can offset the need for inpatient admissions and reduce total cost per episode of care without sacrificing patient quality of life. METHODS: The authors used a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing postintervention patient quality of life for EDOU care versus standard inpatient care as measured by the standardized Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) SF-36 instrument. Other measures reported include: clinical status as measured by peak flow rates, total cost per treatment arm using microcosting techniques, and relapse-free survival 8 weeks after treatment. Eligible patients (n = 113) were assigned randomly to an EDOU or inpatient care from a consecutive sample of 250 acute asthmatic patients presenting to an urban hospital emergency department who could not resolve their acute asthma exacerbation after 3 hours of emergency department therapy. RESULTS: Patients assigned to the EDOU had lower mean costs of treatment (EDOU = $1,202 versus Hospital Inpatient = $2,247) and higher quality of life outcomes after intervention in five of eight domains measured by the MOSSF-36: Physical Functioning, Role Functioning-Emotional, Social Functioning, Mental Health, and Vitality. No differences were found in clinical outcomes as measured by peak flow rates or postintervention relapse-free survival. Univariate comparative findings were re-examined and confirmed through multivariable analysis when baseline SF-36 scores and postintervention peak expiratory flow rates clinical status were used as covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the EDOU was a lower cost and more effective treatment alternative for a refractory asthmatic population presenting to the Emergency Department. Several baseline MOSSF-36 domains proved useful in predicting or validating posttreatment clinical status, relapse, and total costs of care. Outcome SF-36 domain scores were also useful in identifying patients with the most favorable clinical, cost, and relapse rate outcomes at the study endpoint.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine if an accelerated treatment protocol administered to acute asthmatics presenting to a Hospital Emergency Department Observation Unit (EDOU) can offset the need for inpatient admissions and reduce total cost per episode of care without sacrificing patient quality of life. METHODS: The authors used a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing postintervention patient quality of life for EDOU care versus standard inpatient care as measured by the standardized Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) SF-36 instrument. Other measures reported include: clinical status as measured by peak flow rates, total cost per treatment arm using microcosting techniques, and relapse-free survival 8 weeks after treatment. Eligible patients (n = 113) were assigned randomly to an EDOU or inpatient care from a consecutive sample of 250 acute asthmatic patients presenting to an urban hospital emergency department who could not resolve their acute asthma exacerbation after 3 hours of emergency department therapy. RESULTS:Patients assigned to the EDOU had lower mean costs of treatment (EDOU = $1,202 versus Hospital Inpatient = $2,247) and higher quality of life outcomes after intervention in five of eight domains measured by the MOS SF-36: Physical Functioning, Role Functioning-Emotional, Social Functioning, Mental Health, and Vitality. No differences were found in clinical outcomes as measured by peak flow rates or postintervention relapse-free survival. Univariate comparative findings were re-examined and confirmed through multivariable analysis when baseline SF-36 scores and postintervention peak expiratory flow rates clinical status were used as covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the EDOU was a lower cost and more effective treatment alternative for a refractory asthmatic population presenting to the Emergency Department. Several baseline MOS SF-36 domains proved useful in predicting or validating posttreatment clinical status, relapse, and total costs of care. Outcome SF-36 domain scores were also useful in identifying patients with the most favorable clinical, cost, and relapse rate outcomes at the study endpoint.
Authors: Rick Hodder; M Diane Lougheed; Brian H Rowe; J Mark FitzGerald; Alan G Kaplan; R Andrew McIvor Journal: CMAJ Date: 2009-10-26 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Jeremiah D Schuur; Christopher W Baugh; Erik P Hess; Joshua A Hilton; Jesse M Pines; Brent R Asplin Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 2011-06 Impact factor: 3.451
Authors: Latha G Stead; M Fernanda Bellolio; Smitha Suravaram; Robert D Brown; Anjali Bhagra; Rachel M Gilmore; Eric T Boie; Wyatt W Decker Journal: Neurocrit Care Date: 2008-10-11 Impact factor: 3.210
Authors: Valerie G Press; Andrea A Pappalardo; Walter D Conwell; Amber T Pincavage; Meryl H Prochaska; Vineet M Arora Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2012-08 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Michelle L Macy; Rachel M Stanley; Marie M Lozon; Comilla Sasson; Achamyeleh Gebremariam; Matthew M Davis Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2009-03 Impact factor: 7.124