Cost of care in a randomised trial of early hospital discharge after surgery for breast cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the reduction of the l ength of hospital stay after surgery for breast cancer on the rate of care consumption and the cost of care. Patients with operable breast cancer were randomised to a short or long postoperative hospital stay. Data on care co nsumption were collected for a period of 4 months in diaries administered b y patients, and socioeconomic status was evaluated by questionnaires. A cos t minimisation analysis using the 'societal' perspective was performed and savings were compared with the savings of hospital charges. The use of prof essional home care was higher for the short stay group during the first mon th (7.2 versus 1.3 h, P < 0.0001). The number of out-patient consultations, the intensity of informal home care and patient's expenses did not increas e after early discharge. The total cost of care was reduced by US$1320 by i ntroducing the short stay programme (P = 0.0007), but the savings were subs tantially lower than the savings in hospital charges (US$2680). (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.