A cost-effectiveness analysis of a multimedia learning education program for stoma patients

Study aims. The purpose of this study was to compare the costs and effectiveness of enterostomal education using a multimedialearning education program (MLEP) and a conventional education service program (CESP).Background. Multimedia health education programs not only provide patients with useful information in the absence of healthprofessionals, but can also augment information provided in traditional clinical practice. However, the literature on the cost–effectiveness of different approaches to stoma education is limited.Design. This study used a randomised experimental design.Methods. A total of 54 stoma patients were randomly assigned to MLEP or CESP nursing care with a follow-up of one week.Effectiveness measures were knowledge of self-care (KSC), attitude of self-care (ASC) and behavior of self-care (BSC). The costsmeasures for each patient were: health care costs, MLEP cost and family costs.Results. Subjects in the MLEP group demonstrated significantly better outcomes in the effectiveness measures of KSC, ASC andBSC. Additionally, the total social costs for each MLEP patient and CESP patient were US$7396AE90 and US$8570AE54,respectively. The cost–effectiveness ratios in these two groups showed that the MLEP model was better than the CESP modelafter one intervention cycle. In addition, the Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio was 20AE99.Conclusion. This research provides useful information for those who would like to improve the self-care capacity of stomapatients. Due to the better cost–effectiveness ratio of MLEP, hospital policy-makers may consider these results when choosing toallocate resources and develop care and educational interventions.Relevance to clinical practice. This study provides a cost effective way of addressing stoma care in the post-operative period thatcould be usefully transferred to stoma care settings internationally.Key words: cost of care, experimental design, nurses, patient teaching, stoma care, Taiwan