Article
Continuity of care in Swiss cancer patients
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Authors
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Eva Blozik
- Helsana, Gesundheitswissenschaften, Zürich, Switzerland
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Markus Näpflin
- Helsana Versicherungen, Gesundheitswissenschaften, Zürich
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Caroline Bähler
- Helsana Versicherungen, Gesundheitswissenschaften, Zürich
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Martin Scherer
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut und Polyklinik für Allgemeinmedizin, Hamburg
| Published: | October 12, 2018 |
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Outline
Text
Background: International Studies showed that continuity of medical care of cancer patients leads to better results of care.
Research questions: The objective of the present study is to investigate
- 1.
- the current state of continuity of care in Swiss cancer patients including differences across patient subgroups and regions, and
- 2.
- the association of different measures of continuity of care with the patient-relevant outcomes health services utilization and death.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of claims data from the Helsana health insurance group. Analysis of adult cancer patients with basic obligatory health insurance at the Helsana Group between 2012 and 2015. Indices to assess continuity of care include the Usual Provider Continuity (UPC), the Modified Modified Continuity Index (MMCI), the Continuity of Care index (COC), and the Sequential Continuity Index (SECON). Outcomes include health service utilization (hospitalizations, physician visits, costs) and death. Confounding variables include sex, age, region of residence, patients’ co-morbidity as measured by an updated Chronic Disease Score (CDS), type of cost-sharing, and type of health plan. We will correlate the four continuity of care indices with measures of healthcare services utilization and death. Using regression models, we will evaluate the adjusted effect of each of the continuity of care indices on the extent of healthcare services utilization (linear regression) and mortality (logistic regression).
Results: Analyses are currently under way and will be finalized by June.
Discussion: The present study may help to assess whether there is a need for interventions to increase continuity of care in cancer patients managed in the Swiss healthcare system. Further, it helps to assess the potential of such interventions for improving outcomes and reducing patient burden and costs.
Implications for practice: The results my build the basis for health care planning and priority setting. In addition, the study will help to assess the usability of the four assessment instruments for continuity of care for research and evaluation.
