The cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for stroke patients / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the effects of rehabilitation training,acupuncture and the combination of these two therapies on the motor function of stroke survivors,and to evaluate their health economics.Methods Two hundred and five stroke survivors were randomly divided into a rehabilitation group (64 cases),an acupuncture group (69 cases) and a combined group (72 cases).The rehabilitation group received conventional rehabilitation training for 28 days,while the acupuncture group received scalp needling combined with body acupuncture.The combined group received both the training and the acupuncture.The clinical neural functional deficiency scale (NDS) and functional comprehensive assessments (FCA) were evaluated at baseline and on the 28th day after treatment and 28th day after the treatment had ended.The total cost including the direct medical costs,direct non-medical costs and indirect costs were calculated and analyzed.Results The NDS and FCA scores showed no significant difference between the three groups at baseline.At the 28th day after treatment and and 28th day after the treatment had ended,both the NDS and FCA scores had improved significantly in all groups compared with the baseline.However,there was no significant difference between the groups.At the 28th day there was a significant difference in the NDS results of the combined group compared to the other two groups.Significant differences in NDS results among all three groups had appeared by the 56th day,but there was still no significant difference in average FCA scores.At the 28th day no significant difference in cost was observed among the three groups,but the combined group spent significantly less in total cost,direct medical costs,direct non-medical costs and indirect costs for a one point NDS decrement.However,there was no significant difference in the cost of producing a one point increment in FCA among the three groups.Conclusion Combining rehabilitation training with acupuncture is more economical and effective than either treatment alone.