Cost-effectiveness of wound care : a concept analysis

Abstract EN

This review aimed to analyse the concept of cost-effectiveness within the context of chronic wound care using Walker and Avant’s approach.

The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature® (EBSCO Information Services, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA), MEDLINE® (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) and Nursing & Allied Health® (ProQuest LLC, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA) databases were searched using a combination of keywords.

A total of 18 peer-reviewed articles were identified.

In wound care, defining attributes for the concept of cost-effectiveness encompassed treatments which were both effective and economical.

Four antecedents were identified, including the type of wound, care setting, type of dressing and patient-related characteristics.

The consequences of cost-effective wound care were patient prognosis, quality of life, the economic burden on the patient and healthcare system and cost-savings.

These findings will hopefully help to standardise cost-effectiveness terminology among nursing professionals in various healthcare settings.