Análisis descriptivo del costo de la atención y prevención del intento suicida en adolescentes 2010

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a global public health problem. In Colombia the young are the most vulnerable. There are clearly significant losses from the moral standpoint, but also considerable expenditure of money it generates. No evidence of the cost of care, prevention or attempted suicide in the country. It is pertinent to quantification of the cost of care and prevention of suicide attempt, for better resource management. The objective of this study is to quantify the average direct costs of medical care resulting from attempted suicide in a children`s clinic and compare the costs of a primary prevention strategy (TeenScreen program) implemented in a school in 2010 in Bogotá, in under 18. Methods: A cross sectional study, which quantifies and average direct medical costs of care and prevention program, based on tariff costs. Results: The average cost of care for patients diagnosed with suicide attempt and for the prevention program was $ 1, 745, 612 Colombian pesos (n = 41) and $ 68. 536 (n = 171) respectively. Almost half the cost of hospitalization was reversed in patients requiring hospitalization in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) the average cost to care for these patients was $ 12, 518, 888. Discussion: The attempted suicide prevention is less costly than hospital care, especially if it requires PICU.