Objective: To evaluate the health economic value clinical pathway (CP) of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of mild acute pancreatitis (MAP).
Methods: Ninty one patients with MAP were enrolled prospectively in TCM clinical pathway group from June 2012 to February 2013, while the data of 80 MAP patients who were treated without TCM clinical pathway from June 2011 to May 2012, were analyzed retrospectively as control group. The health economic evaluation data used for the two groups comparison included: average length of stay, hospitalization expenses (total hospitalization expenses, total treatment cost, TCM treatment cost, herbal fees, medicine fees, and nursing care cost), as well as the usage of antibiotics/somatostatin, the release time of abdominal pain, the time of re-feeding, and patient satisfaction.
Results: There were no significant statistical differences in demographics, etiology, Ranson and Balthazar CT scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with non-CP group, the usage of antibiotics and somatostatin, the release time of abdominal pain, the time of re-feeding and patient satisfaction were all improved significantly in CP group (P < 0.05). The average length of stay in CP group was shorter than that of non-CP group (P < 0.05). Total hospitalization expenses [yen (11,089.89 +/- 4,318.29) vs. yen (8,960.34 +/- 4,328.91)], medicine fees [yen (6,563.80 +/- 2,743.87) vs. yen (3,988.28 +/- 2,128.10)] and nursing care cost [yen (110.51 +/- 37.24) vs. yen (93.32 +/- 35.20)] were all reduced in CP group, while TCM treatment cost [yen (609.59 +/- 624.42) vs. (968.29 +/- 769.68)] and herbal fees [yen (162.72 +/- 135.13) vs. yen (303.49 +/- 149.90)] were increased (P < 0.05). There was no significant statistical difference in total treatment cost between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: TCM clinical pathway of MAP can not only ensure the therapeutic effects, but also shorten the average length of stay, reduce medical cost and increase patient satisfaction.