In this economic evaluation of environmental epidemiological monitoring projects, we analyzed the economic feasibility of these projects by determining the social cost and benefit of these projects and conducting a cost/benefit analysis. Here, the social cost was evaluated by converting annual budgets for these research and survey projects into present values. Meanwhile, the societal benefit of these projects was evaluated by using the contingent valuation method to estimate the willingness-to-pay of residents living in or near industrial complexes. In addition, the extent to which these projects reduced negative health effects (i.e., excess disease and premature death) was evaluated through expert surveys, and the analysis was conducted to reflect the unit of economic value, based on the cost of illness and benefit transfer method. The results were then used to calculate the benefit of these projects in terms of the decrease in negative health effects. For residents living near industrial complexes, the benefit/cost ratio was 1.44 in the analysis based on resident surveys and 5.17 in the analysis based on expert surveys. Thus, whichever method was used for the economic analysis, the economic feasibility of these projects was confirmed.
Budgets ; Cost of Illness ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Methods

To compare two enrichment and preservation methods of urinary proteins, stored in polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane (Urimem) or direct freezing, we examined the differences between the two methods in time, space, costs of supplies and electricity, degree of protein degradation and convenience of the sample handling. The urimem method is superior in the storage space, the cost of electricity and the clinical convenience compared to the direct freezing method. However, the direct freezing method is superior in the time and the cost of supplies to the urimem method. The enrichment and preservation of urinary proteins using urimem have more cost-effective benefits compared to those of the direct freezing method.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Freezing ; Humans ; Polyvinyls ; Preservation, Biological ; methods ; Proteins ; chemistry ; Urine ; chemistry

Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Program Evaluation

OBJECTIVELife-threatening critical congenital heart disease (cCHD) is often not detected in the neonatal period. Unrecognized cCHD results in high morbidity and mortality rates. As a non-invasive, convenient, quick and accurate measuring method, pulse oximetry is considered to be a promising strategy to screen for cCHD in neonates. This article is a review on the neonatal pulse oximetry screening for cCHD.

DATA SOURCESArticles on neonatal pulse oximetry screening for cCHD were accessed from PubMed, using keywords including congenital heart defects, neonatal screening and oximetry.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles and critical reviews selected were relevant to the review's theme.

RESULTSThe factors in the course of implementation, including threshold for positive pulse-oximetry screening results, the pulse oximeters used, timing of the screening, and the measuring position, influence the accuracy of the screening. It is recommended that the screening is completed on the second day of life, before hospital discharge. Motion-tolerant pulse oximeters, which can also be applied to measure the saturation in low-perfusion conditions, should be used. The probe should be put on both the right hand and on one foot. Thresholds of < 95% in either limb or a difference of > 3% between the limbs as a positive result may be appropriate. It should be emphasized that pulse-oximetry screening cannot be used as the only way to detect cCHD, clinical examination is also important in this situation. Cost-benefit analysis in the United Kingdom revealed it was plausible to use pulse oximetry as an adjunct to clinical examination. However, it is still controversial as to whether pulse oximetry can be used as a routine screening method for cCHD in neonates.

CONCLUSIONSNeonatal pulse oximetry screening improves detection of cCHD. Further studies should be carried out before it becomes one of the routine newborn screening programs.

Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening ; Oximetry ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost/benefit of different vaccination strategies related to chickenpox vaccine. METHODS: The direct economic cost and indirect economic cost caused by chickenpox were obtained through questionnaire survey. The epidemic characteristics of chickenpox in Zhejiang province were studied by literature review. Dynamic model was set up by Matlab software based on the parameters of chickenpox, to predict the incidence trends of chickenpox with different immunization strategies (no vaccination, 1-dose vaccination, 2-dose vaccination) in future 40 years (2017-2056). A cost-benefit analysis was conducted, and the sensitivities of the main parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Through the questionnaire survey of 105 cases, the direct and indirect economic cost per case was 506.84 Yuan and 1045.39 Yuan respectively, with the total of 1552.23 Yuan. During the prediction period (40 years), there would be 7.0908 million cases in strategy 2, which was 59.71% less than strategy 1 (17.5989 million cases). Total vaccination costs in strategy 2 were 2.366 billion Yuan, with a total economic gain of 33.741 billion Yuan and benefit/cost ratio (BCR) of 14.26:1. If strategy 3 was adopted, 2.7249 million chickenpox cases would occur, with a decrease of 84.52% compared with strategy 1. Total vaccination costs in strategy 3 was 4.495 billion Yuan, with a total economic gain of 44.309 billion Yuan and BCR of 9.86:1. Analysis showed that the vaccine price was the most sensitive variable, followed by the incidence of chickenpox in the absence of vaccine. CONCLUSIONS In Zhejiang province, one-dose strategy and two-dose strategy were both cost effective. It is suggested that the chickenpox vaccination should be included in the immunization program in Zhejiang province.
Chickenpox ; prevention & control ; Chickenpox Vaccine ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; economics ; methods ; Vaccination ; economics

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical application and health economic values of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and second trimester serum screening (STSS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 54 026 singleton pregnant women undergoing NIPT and STSS from March 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 in Changsha Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital. For pregnant women with high-risk results of NIPT, prenatal diagnosis and follow-up of pregnancy outcomes were conducted. The data was grouped to 4 screening models, and their cost-benefit was analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of NIPT were all higher than STSS. Screening models 1 to 4 have prevented the birth of 71, 29, 52 and 54 patients with Down syndrome, respectively. The safety index of screening models 1 to 4 were 0.0036, 0.3944, 02215 and 0.1281, respectively. When the price of NIPT was decreased to 600 RMB, the cost-benefit of the screening models 1 to 4 was 0.46, 0.65, 0.44 and 0.40 million RMB, respectively. CONCLUSION NIPT has a better detection performance than STSS. When the price of NIPT is 600 RMB, screening model 1 has the best screening effect and the highest accuracy, safety index and health economical value.
Child ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Down Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Retrospective Studies

Since its introduction 6 years ago, almost all abdominal procedures have been attempted laparoscopically. Despite their retroperitoneal location, kidneys and adrenals have also been reached by the blitz of endoscopic surgery since 1992. We present here the techniques, indications, advantages or disadvantages of the videoscopic approach-either laparoscopic or retroperitoneoscopic- of those solid retroperitoneal organs. Preliminary results of the international literature are presented, while objectively comparing currently available data about the efficacy and cost of endoscopic versus open procedure. Despite the time-consuming nature and high operative cost of the endoscopic approach, decreased convalescence and better patient comfort are evident. Furthermore videoendoscopic adrenal surgery performed, even sporadically, by surgeons experienced in laparoscopic surgery is as safe as the open approach, provided that those surgeons are also familiar with the rules and potential drawbacks of adrenal surgery for endocrine disorders.
Adrenalectomy ; economics ; methods ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Endoscopy ; economics ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; economics ; methods ; Nephrectomy ; economics ; methods ; Retroperitoneal Space

Being aimed at the management of investment equipments, the flow of data has been put forward and the two main modes of data calculating have been established by our relying on No.1 Network of Military Healthy. The real-time management has been realized by the system in regard to eguipments' contact, charges, payouts, interest, payment, forecast and decision-makiing. It has been steadily test-running for more than 10 months in our hospital, and data have been processed exactly and creditably.
Computer Communication Networks ; Computer Simulation ; Computer Systems ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; methods ; Equipment and Supplies, Hospital ; economics ; Financial Management, Hospital ; methods ; Software

BACKGROUNDLaparoscopic splenectomy (LS) shows many advantages compared with open surgery except for the high cost. This study was aimed to recommend secondary pedicle division strategy as a method with high cost-effectiveness.

METHODSFrom January 2003 to June 2005, 14 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy. The splenic pedicle was controlled by secondary pedicle division strategy in 8 cases and by Endo-GIA in the other 6 cases. A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the operative time, blood loss, time to diet, operative morbidity, postoperative stay, and operative cost.

RESULTSLS was performed successfully in a total of 14 cases. There was no significant difference between the two strategies in operative time, blood loss, time to diet, operative morbidity and postoperative stay. The operative cost of secondary pedicle division strategy group (RMB 8354.38 +/- 752.10) was significantly lower than that of Endo-GIA group (RMB 11053.33 +/- 602.27) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic splenectomy by secondary pedicle division strategy is a safe, effective and economical procedure with the value of popularization in developing countries.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenectomy ; methods

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the cost of smear-positive drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) treatment of the patients in the Azadshahr district, Golestan Province, Iran. METHODS: In this retrospective study, all new smear positive pulmonary TB patients who had been registered at the district’s health network between April, 2013 and December, 2015 and had successfully completed their treatment were entered into the study (45 patients). Treatment costs were estimated from the provider’s perspective using an activity-based costing (ABC) method. RESULTS: The cost of treating a new smear-positive pulmonary TB patient was US dollar (USD) 1,409.00 (Iranian Rial, 39,438,260), which can be divided into direct and indirect costs (USD 1,226.00 [87%] and USD 183.00 [13%], respectively). The highest cost (58.1%) was related to care and management of TB patients (including 46.1% human resources costs and 12% directly-observed treatment, short course implementation) and then respectively related to hospitalization (12.1%), supportive activity centers (11.4%), transportation (6.5%), medicines (5.3%), and laboratory tests and radiography (3.2%). CONCLUSION: Using disease-specific cost studies can help the healthcare system management to have correct insight into the financial burden created by the disease. This can subsequently be used in prioritization, planning, operational budgeting, economic evaluation of programs, interventions, and ultimately in disease management.
Budgets ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Delivery of Health Care ; Disease Management ; Health Care Costs ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Iran ; Methods ; Public Health ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Transportation ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary