Abstract:

Objective  To investigate effect of clinical pathway management on imported malaria cases.Methods  The data were collected in inpatients with malaria undergone treatment in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Beijing Capital University between January 2011 and December 2012. All patients were divided into pathway management group (n=43, aged 25-56) and control group (n=37, aged 16-61). The two groups were evaluated regarding the length of hospital stay, medical costs, clinical outcomes and the extent of health knowledge as well as satisfaction with medical care. Results  In the pathway management group，average length of hospital stay was (6.1±1.5) d, whereas that for the control group was (8±2.1) d (P=0.000). Total costs in hospitalization for the pathway management group and control group were (2766±721) vs. (4 393±1 392)RMB yuan, the western medicine expenses (576±291) vs. (1145±597), laboratory cost (1 355±504) vs.(1 939±645), physical examination (109±16) vs. (445±73), treatment(73±22) vs. (104±43), respectively. The expense in pathway management group was significantly lower than that of control group(P<0.05). The patients in the pathway management group had better knowledge related to malaria and satisfaction with their medical care in hospital than their counterparts(P<0.05), yet the two groups remained similar concerning the clinical effect within 30 d and the unplanned readmission due to the same disease. Conclusion  Clinical pathway management can regulate medical behaviors through reduction of medical costs, avoidance of excessive laboratory tests and therapy, and is more conducive to care and healing of patients with malaria.

Key words: Clinical pathways, Malaria, Imported malaria cases, Health education