Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP (Aug 2014)

Procedures’ costs related to outpatient chemotherapy treatment of women suffering from breast cancer

  • Caroline Rife Nobrega,
  • Antônio Fernandes Costa Lima

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-623420140000400018
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 48, no. 4
pp. 699 – 705

Abstract

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To identify the direct cost of procedures related to an outpatient chemotherapy treatment for women with breast cancer. Method: This is a quantitative research, using the case study methodology, performed in an outpatient chemotherapy of a private hospital. The total cost was calculated by multiplying the time spent by professionals involved in therapeutic procedures, the unit cost of direct labor, adding to the cost of materials, drugs and solutions. For performing the calculations, we used the Brazilian currency (R$). Results: The average total cost per chemotherapy session corresponded to R$ 1,783.01 (100%), being R$ 1,671.66 (93,75%) spent with drugs, R$ 74,98 (4.21%) with materials, R$ 28.49 (1.60%) with labor and R$ 7.88 (0.44%) with solutions. Conclusion: The results may support discussions and decision making for the management of costs related to chemotherapy aimed at reducing expenses and eliminating waste without harm to the care provided.

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