ArticleBMJ open quality2025
Cost4Visit: a cross-sectional cohort study on hidden costs among surgical patients and relatives for in-person and video visits.
Article in BMJ open quality, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundHealthcare systems face excessive pressure on sustainability due to financial, social and environmental concerns. Video visits offer an appreciated alternative for routine in-person visits in surgical subspecialties, with the potential to lower costs among hospitals and patients and carbon footprint. However, a comprehensive understanding of patients' and companions' costs to attend an outpatient clinic visit remains understudied. The study aims to provide insight into direct and indirect patient costs of a tertiary surgical outpatient clinic visit.
methodsA cross-sectional survey study was conducted among adult patients scheduled for a tertiary outpatient surgery clinic visit from September 2020 to September 2021. The cost of a surgical visit was assessed using a study-specific questionnaire. Visit costs between subspecialties and visit modalities were compared with generalised linear modelling.
resultsOf the 961 included surgical patients (866 in-person and 95 video visits), those who received a video visit experienced a substantial halving of visit-related costs (€67 vs €172; β=-103.65, p<0.001) and reduction in costs with increasing age (β=-1.52, p=<0.001), attributable to decreased absenteeism from work for patients and companions, and the absence of travel expenses.
conclusionDirect and indirect costs among patients and relatives for a visit to a tertiary surgical outpatient clinic are high. Reporting previously neglected, yet significant costs, including those borne by companions, could enhance awareness among clinicians and policymakers regarding the financial and societal impact of offering certain visit modalities and may influence the shared decision-making process.
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