Determinants of cost of hospitalization:an analysis of 2778 lung cancer patients in Gansu Province / 军事医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the demographic characteristics,composition characteristics as well as influencing factors of the cost of hospitalization of patients with lung cancer in Gansu Province in order to help reduce their expenses. Methods The basics,healthcare records and expenses of patients diagnosed with lung cancer in a third-level grade-A hospital in Lanzhou were extracted between 2010 and 2014 through the hospital information system(HIS)database.The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to analyze the difference of expense composition over the past five years and the difference between subgroups.The forward,backward and stepwise selection method was used to select variables and the multi-linear regression analysis was adopted to explore the influencing factors of the cost of hospitalization.Results A total of 2778 eligible lung cancer patients were collected.The statistical analysis showed that western medicine cost (36.39%)and treatment cost (22.46%)accounted for the most of the total expense.The length of hospital stay was the No.1 influencing factor of the cost of hospitalization,followed by the acceptance of surgery,the year of admission and charge type. Conclusion Regulating drug use,enhancing treatment regimens,giving psychological guidance,strengthening hospital management and improving medical resources allocation may be effective measures to reduce the cost of hospitalization and lighten the economic burden for lung cancer patients in Gansu Province.