Cost indicators of family care of people with chronic disease: relevant in public health

Abstract

Introduction: Addressing chronic illness implies having an outline of objective, pertinent, accurate, reliable, and cost-effective measures. Objective: This paper’s objective is to establish a system of indicators required to measure the relative cost of family care of people with chronic disease. Metodology: Starting with the “Model for the Reduction of Care Burden of Chronic Disease” MDCC- EC, and based on the UN SIMEGE Guide, for the development of indicators in order to measure and monitor the processes aimed at reducing the cost of family care of chronic disease. Results: The methodology proposed in the UN SIMEGE Guide allowed the construction of indicators for five characteristics associated with family care for people with chronic disease. These characteristics are described as a fundamental component of the MDCC-EC and they include:The care access, care continuity, care safety, the self-care capacity and the social support with the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Conclusions: The 19 indicators established allow the measurement of the cost of family care for people with chronic disease. This measurement is necessary and indispensable to know, understand, guide and correct implementation of strategies, actions and results of the implementation of MDCC-EC in relation to ill people and their families. These indicators are essential in order to communicate the results of the fulfillment of the goals for how the conceptual theoretical approaches of the MDCC-EC are met in compliance with the requirements of users of services and to continue improving the given services adding value to them.[Barrera-Ortiz L, Carreño SP, Carrillo GM, Chaparro-Díaz L, Gómez OJ, Sánchez-Herrera B, Vargas-Rosero E. Cost indicators of family care of people with chronic disease: relevant in public health. MedUNAB 2015; 18(2):125-134]