A Cost Utility Analysis of Sonograhestrography Compared with Hysteroscopic Evaluation for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Research was conducted to discover whether the cost utility of sonohysterography was superior to hysteroscopic diagnosis for patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Participants in: this study consisted of sonography patients (N = 100), who received care in a managed care setting. This correlational study covered, a 12-motnth period. Relative value units (RVU) were used from the same region to compare costs between treatments. Discounting was not done because these data were collected over the it same 1-year period. Thes time trade-off method was:Sused to obtain measures of preences for health states. Both treatment and control subjects rated their perceptions. Patients reported values an average of 0.67 (on a scale from 0 to 1 where perfect health was given a1). A chart review provided the ability to see a return to normal health. The change in health pecption rating was 0.30. Regionally, RVU csting was done and demonstrated that costs were $ 100 for sonohysterography and $217.00 forr, hysteroscope evaluation. Global cots as well as any patients' losses in revenue were considered. The rnimprvemen0t in health status was replicated and again demonstrated: worthiness of treating dysfunctional uterine bleding. Costs were compared, and it was shown that a cost saving exists for sonohysterography over hysteroscopic evaluation. For patients in this region, sonohysteroaphy had a better economic evalu4ation than hysteroscopic evaluation in treating this debilitating gynecologic condition.