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Table 4 Primary Articles Revieweda Study design

From: Cost-effectiveness of continuity of midwifery care for women with complex pregnancy: a structured review of the literature

Aim of Study

Sample / Setting

Design / Method

Model used (link costs & health outcomes)

1. Gao, Y. et al. (2014).

Compared CE two models, Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) against baseline cohort of Aboriginal mothers / infants.

Clinical and cost analysis

Australia √

Regional hospital, Northern Territory

MGP cohort: 7 communities

MGP Women = 310

MGP Babies n = 315

(Sept 2009 – June 2011)

Baseline cohort: 2 communities

Baseline Women n = 412

Baseline babies n = 416

(Jan 2004- Dec 2006) All risk

Economic evaluation - retrospective records audit (Baseline Jan 2004-Dec2006) prospective data collection (MGP Sept 2009-June 2011)

Cost-consequences analysis: Australian dollars

Measured/calculated direct costs per group

Established comparative cost and changes post establishment MGP service from first antenatal appointment to 6 weeks postpartum for Aboriginal mothers and babies

2. Tracy, S.K. et al. (2013).

Assess efficacy, safety and cost of caseload midwifery versus standard hospital maternity care for women of mixed obstetric risk

Dec 2008 -May 2011

Australia √

Women of all pregnancy risk status

(not stratified)

Sample 1748 women

2 tertiary teaching hospital sites,

2 states, NSW / Queensland

2 arm RCT Caseload care, Women with a named midwife

n = 871 versus

Women Standard Hospital Care

n = 877

Intention to treat analyses

Cost- consequences analysis: Australian dollars

Cost of care per woman based on DRG separation and direct and indirect costs for resource use collected from hospital financial system

Primary & secondary clinical & cost outcomes

Univariate logistic regression, OR 95% CIs and Pearson χ2 test; p values; non-parametric bootstrap percentile CIs infer significance of effects

3. Jan S. et al. (2004). Holistic economic evaluation of an Aboriginal Community Controlled Midwifery Program in Western Sydney

1990-1996

Australia √

Sample: 2 groups of Aboriginal women, Western Sydney birthing between Oct 1990 – Dec 1996, Nepean & Blacktown hospitals

n = 834

Antenatal care at Daruk Aboriginal Community Controlled Program, or either hospital

Cost analyses estimated Direct Program costs and downstream savings.

Retrospective case record audit

Cost analysis: Australian dollars

Clinical and cost data linked from case record and NSW Midwives Data Collection 1991–1996 with hospital data linked with Australian National DRG cost weights; Medication: PBS (pharmaceutical benefits) Diagnostic tests: MBS (medicare benefits)

Sensitivity analysis used to model uncertainty

4. Homer C.S. et al. (2001).

Assess clinical and cost difference – team community midwifery care -CMWC compared to control/ standard hospital care - SHC

1997-1998

Australia √

Sample of women of mixed pregnancy risk

n = 1089

CMW = 550

SHC = 539

One Australian public hospital

State of NSW

RCT-Zelen Design

Cost analysis: CMW vs SHC

2 teams each with 6 fulltime midwives provided care for 600 women/yr (25 births/mth/team)

Calculated mean cost/woman for 9 components of maternity care

Cost analysis: Australian dollars

Mean cost/woman/group - standard errors and 95% CI calculated using bootstrap technique

Components of care and cost for resources used for each woman: antenatal clinic; antenatal admission; day assessment unit; labour and birth; hospital-based postnatal care; domiciliary postnatal care; and, admission of neonates to the special care nursery (SCN), on-call costs.

Salaries and wages calculated at market prices

Sensitivity analysis in 3 areas: Neonatal admission to SCN; Efficiency of AN clinics; Proportion of elective CS

5. Rowley, M.J. et al. (1995).

Examined cost/clinical differences for birth between 2 groups - Team Midwifery - 6 midwives vs routine hospital care

Australia √

Sample of women of mixed pregnancy risk

n = 814

Discrete stratification of high risk =

275 women

Team midwifery n= 405

Hospital care n = 409

One Australian public hospital

State of NSW

RCT: 2 groups continuity team (midwives) vs routine care (hospital)

Cost measured: Australian National Cost Weights for Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG) per birth / delivery

Intention to treat

Cost-effectiveness: Australian dollars; direct costs

Multiple outcomes measured.

No single measure of effectiveness derived.

Australian national cost weights for diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) applied to outcomes of women for whom complete results were avail. Performed retrospectively by clerk blinded to study - based on medical records, covered inpatient costs. Cost of intervention & comparative care estimated by analysing midwives' salaries.

No discounting as time-period < one year. Costs and quantities not reported separately.

No sensitivity analysis undertaken.

No price dates given.

6. Kenny, P. et al. (1994). Cost analyses: Team Midwifery Vs Standard hospital care. Included clinical outcomes Sept 1992 – July 1993

Australia √

Sample n = 446 women

Team Midwifery n =213

Standard Care n = 233

Westmead public hospital

State of NSW

RCT 2 Arm Study

Resource cost estimates: AN, birth, PN care

Cost estimated where statistically significant difference in service use shown

Included: direct costs, infrastructure, staff salaries - calculated for ‘low’ and ‘high’ risk women each group

Cost analysis (Drummond1987)

Costs estimated based on resource use at AN, birth and PN (including domiciliary) stages of care separately

Costs based on care delivered

No sensitivity analysis undertaken.

Costing assumptions: cost effective if resource costs of midwifery care shown to be less or equivalent to conventional care and health benefits of midwife care relative to conventional care are shown to be positive

  1. aStudies are presented in reverse chronologic order; √ denotes a minimum score of 6 (from possible 8) quality appraisal questions; Studies 2, 4, 5 and 6 = randomised controlled trial with linked economic evaluation