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Table 1 Cost categories and details of source data for quantification and valuation of relevant costs

From: The Alberta population-based prospective evaluation of the quality of life outcomes and economic impact of bariatric surgery (APPLES) study: background, design and rationale

Cost Category1 Source Details Units of Resources Time Frame
1. Inpatient encounters Administrative data # of hospitalizations
length-of-stay 		Provided by fiscal year
Referenced to time zero
2. Outpatient encounters Administrative data # encounters
# procedures 		Provided by fiscal year
Referenced to time zero
3. Physician Fees Administrative data # encounters
Provider specialty
Service provided 		Provided by fiscal year
Referenced to time zero
4. Medications Patient interview Name
Dosage, frequency & duration 		Bi-annual
5. Weight Wise Clinic Visits Administrative data and chart review Personnel (nurses, dieticians, support staff) salaries
Administrative and capital costs
Supplies & equipment 		Provided by fiscal year
Referenced to time zero
6. Home Care & Long Term Care Patient interview Personnel (nurse, OT, PT, RT) salaries
Disability aids (walker, bars, rails, etc.)
Administrative and capital costs 		Bi-annual
7. Transfer Payments Patient interview Unemployment insurance
Disability benefits
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) 		Bi-annual
8. Employment status, absenteeism Patient interview Employment status in past year (# hours/week, # weeks)
Absenteeism in past year (# days)
Annual income (by quintile) 		Bi-annual
9. Weight Loss Interventions Patient interview Weight loss program, meal replacements, physical trainer, exercise programs, alternative therapies, nutritional counselling, commercial program Bi-annual
10. Mobility and Medical Patient interview Mobility aids, home modification/renovations, rehabilitation, paid personal assistance (household activities and home productivity, driving) Bi-annual
11. Personal/Household Productivity Patient interview as part of quality of life surveys Capacity to perform household/domestic activities, personal care, and participate in leisure activities (Scalar)
Paid/unpaid caregivers 		Bi-annual
  1. AHCIP = Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. MACAR = Morbidity and Ambulatory Care Abstracting Record. DAD = Discharge Abstract Database. LOS = Length of stay. CIHI = Canadian Institute for Health Information. OT = occupational therapy. PT = physiotherapy. RT = respiratory therapy. SW = social worker.
  2. 1Health Care Payor perspective includes cost categories 1-6; Public Payor perspective includes cost categories 1-7 and Societal Payor perspective includes all costs.
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BMC Health Services Research

ISSN: 1472-6963

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