Costs of topical treatment of pressure ulcer patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the costs of a topical treatment of pressure ulcer (PU) patients in a hospital unit for treatment of chronic patients in 2014. METHOD This is an activity-based costing study. This method encompasses the identification, measurement and pricing of physical and human resources consumed for dressings. RESULTS Procedure costs varied between BRL 16.41 and BRL 260.18. For PUs of the same category, of near areas and with the same type of barrier/adjuvant, the cost varied between 3.5% and 614.6%. For most dressings, the cost increased proportionally to the increase of the area and to the development of PU category. The primary barrier accounted for a high percentage of costs among all items required to the application of dressings (human and material resources). Dressings applied in sacral PUs had longer application times. CONCLUSION This study allowed us to understand the costs involved in the treatment of PUs, and it may support decision-makers and other cost-effectiveness studies.

Pressure ulcer dressings in critical patients: a cost analysis

“…This topical treatment is usually used in burn patients to help prevent and treat wound infections (22) . The mean total cost of dressing materials was considerable, even without the use of industrialized dressings, which vary in cost and depend on the size and severity of PU (23) . Pressure ulcers take a long time to heal, so despite the apparent low unit cost of the materials used, when multiplied by the number of times used, PU generate high costs for hospitals.…”

Análise de custos do tratamento de lesão por pressão em pacientes internados

“…A literatura (5) apresenta cálculos de mão de obra baseados na folha salarial de todos os funcionários envolvidos via Sistema de Apuração do Ponto do Trabalhador. Para os autores, houve uma variação de 5,75 a 33,73 minutos na aplicação de todas as coberturas.…”

“…Diferentes coberturas apresentam custos que variam conforme a área e gravidade das LPP. Estudo sobre este tema (5) apresentou custos envolvidos no tratamento das LPP. Tal trabalho pode fornecer subsídios para os tomadores de decisão, assim como para a realização de investigações sobre custo-efetividade, fator crucial na gestão do cuidado.…”

Recursos humanos e materiais para a prevenção de lesão por pressão

“…A study was conducted, which evaluated the daily expenses with the treatment of these ulcers, and that the mean was from R$ 98.90 to R$ 180.00, but according to the evolution and degradation of the tissue present in the lesion, the values gradually increased. 4 Another study carried out in Minas Gerais, to evaluate the monthly expenditure, shows values from R$ 915.75 to R$ 36.629.95 and the annual value of R$ 445,664.39. In these values, human and physical resources are not included and, if they were measured, the values would be even more exorbitant.…”

“…In these values, human and physical resources are not included and, if they were measured, the values would be even more exorbitant. 4 It should be noted, therefore, that care with PU occupies the third place in health spending by Brazilian institutions. In addition, the demand for nursing care time increases by 50% of what would be dispensed if this time were applied only in prevention.…”