Cost template for meaningful activity intervention for mild cognitive impairment

• Published in: Clinical nurse specialist Vol. 27; no. 2; p. 88
• Main Authors: Lu, Yvonne Yueh-Feng, Bakas, Tamilyn, Haase, Joan E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Caregivers - economics; Cognitive Dysfunction - economics; Cognitive Dysfunction - therapy; Costs and Cost Analysis; Humans; Pilot Projects; Program Evaluation
• ISSN: 1538-9782
• DOI: 10.1097/NUR.0b013e3182819171

The objective of the study was to describe and compare cost estimates for a pilot study of the Daily Enhancement of Meaningful Activity intervention for persons with mild cognitive impairment-caregiver dyads. The increasing complexity of the healthcare system and rising healthcare costs have forced nurse scientists to find ways to effectively improve healthcare quality and control cost, but no studies have examined costs for new programs that target persons with mild cognitive impairment-caregiver dyads. Pilot study data were used to develop a cost template and calculate the cost of implementing the Daily Enhancement of Meaningful Activity. Mean cost per dyad was estimated to be $1327.97 in the clinical setting, compared with $1069.06 if a telephone delivery mode had been used for 4 of the 6 face-to-face sessions. This difference was largely due to transportation-related expenses and staff cost. : Daily Enhancement of Meaningful Activity should be evaluated further with larger and more diverse samples as a technology-delivered health promotion program that could reduce costs.