Cost awareness of consumables and medications used by anesthesia staff

Abstract

          Background : Labor costs in developing countries are less substantial when compared to costs related to imported pharmaceuticals and consumables. Locally manufactured high quality products are now also increasingly available in many Asian countries and less expensive.  Many healthcare providers are not aware of actual costs of what they use daily.

          Objective : to learn whether cost awareness can affect usage behavior and result in health care  cost reduction.

          Methods : A single center, prospective observational study conducted between 2008 and 2009. The pre-study questionnaire was issued to 136 participants (anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiology residents) to assess their cost awareness of anesthesia consumables and pharmaceuticals. Price tags were then affixed on each medication and consumable, which could be clearly seen in daily practice.  This was continued for 12 months. At the end of one year, a post-study questionnaire was issued to 125 participants. The stock data of used item was also recorded using time series analysis.

          Results : Post study test data revealed improvement of cost awareness in  only 3 out of a total of 25 sample items studied among anesthesiology staff but not among  trainees (residents).   Data showed no statistically significant changes (no reduction and no increment) between with and without intervention.

Conclusions : Cost awareness of anesthesia consumables and medications among certain group of anesthesia staffs (non-trainees) does not change usage behavior which resulted in no change of total anesthesia cost.