Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2021.19.1.1

Systematic review for economic benefit of poison control center  

Han, Eunah (Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College)
Hwang, Hyuna (Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College)
Yu, Gina (Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College)
Ko, Dong Ryul (Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College)
Kong, Taeyoung (Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College)
You, Je Sung (Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College)
Choa, Minhong (Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College)
Chung, Sung Phil (Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College)
Publication Information
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology / v.19, no.1, 2021 , pp. 1-7 More about this Journal
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to investigate the socio-economic benefits of the poison control center (PCC) and to assess whether telephone counseling at the poison control center affects the frequency of emergency room visits, hospitalization, and length of stay of patients with acute poisoning. Methods: The authors conducted a medical literature search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Two reviewers evaluated the abstracts for eligibility, extracted the data, and assessed the study quality using a standardized tool. Key results such as the cost-benefit ratio, hospital stay days, unnecessary emergency room visits or hospitalizations, and reduced hospital charges were extracted from the studies. When meta-analysis was possible, it was performed using RevMan software (RevMan version 5.4). Results: Among 299 non-duplicated studies, 19 were relevant to the study questions. The cost-benefit ratios of PCC showed a wide range from 0.76 to 36 (average 6.8) according to the level of the medical expense of each country and whether the study included intentional poisoning. PCC reduced unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. PCC consultation shortened the length of hospital stay by 1.82 (95% CI, 1.07-2.57) days. Conclusion: The systematic review and meta-analysis support the hypothesis that the PCC operation is cost-beneficial. However, when implementing the PCC concept in Korea in the future, it is necessary to prepare an institutional framework to ensure a costeffective model.
Keywords
Poison Control Center; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Length of Stay; Systematic Review;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Anell A, Persson M. Toxicologic information center's hotline-well-received and cost-effective for the society, Alternate title: Giftinformationscentralens radgivning--omtyckt och lonsam for samhallet. National Library of Medicine. Lakartidningen Vol. 98, Iss. 24, 2001;98:2926-30.
2 Miller TR, Lestina DC. Costs of poisoning in the United States and savings from poison control centers: a benefit-cost analysis. Ann Emerg Med. 1997;29:239-45.   DOI
3 LoVecchio F, Curry S, Waszolek K, et al. Poison control centers decrease emergency healthcare utilization costs. J Med Toxicol. 2008;4:221-4.   DOI
4 Tak CR, Malheiro MC, Bennett HK, et al. The value of a poison control center in preventing unnecessary ED visits and hospital charges: A multi-year analysis. Am J Emerg Med. 2017;35:438-43.   DOI
5 King WD, Palmisano PA. Poison control centers: can their value be measured? South Med J. 1991;84:722-6.   DOI
6 Vassilev ZP, Marcus SM. The impact of a poison control center on the length of hospital stay for patients with poisoning. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2007;70:107-10.   DOI
7 Chafee-Bahamon C, Lovejoy FH, Jr. Effectiveness of a regional poison center in reducing excess emergency room visits for children's poisonings. Pediatrics. 1983;72:164-9.   DOI
8 Zaloshnja E, Miller T, Jones P, et al. The potential impact of poison control centers on rural hospitalization rates for poisoning. Pediatrics. 2006;118:2094-100.   DOI
9 Galvao TF, Silva MT, Silva CD, et al. Impact of a poison control center on the length of hospital stay of poisoned patients: retrospective cohort. Sao Paulo Med J. 2011;129:23-9.   DOI
10 Toverud EL, Pike E, Walloe L. The National Poison Center in Norway: user satisfaction and a health economic evaluation. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2009;65:935-40.   DOI
11 Zaloshnja E, Miller T, Jones P, et al. The impact of poison control centers on poisoning-related visits to EDs--United States, 2003. Am J Emerg Med. 2008;26:310-5.   DOI
12 Harrison DL, Draugalis JR, Slack MK, et al. Cost-effectiveness of regional poison control centers. Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:2601-8.   DOI
13 Friedman LS, Krajewski A, Vannoy E, et al. The association between U.S. Poison Center assistance and length of stay and hospital charges. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014;52:198-206.   DOI
14 Lerner WM, Warner KE. The challenge of privately-financed community health programs in an era of cost containment: a case study of poison control centers. J Public Health Policy. 1988;9:411-28.   DOI
15 Ponampalam R, Loh C. Cost benefits of the Drug and Poison Information Centre in preventing unnecessary hospitalisation: The Singapore experience. Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2010;17:45-53.   DOI
16 Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Brooks DE, et al. 2015 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 33rd Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2016;54:924-1109.   DOI
17 Phillips KA, Homan RK, Hiatt PH, et al. The costs and outcomes of restricting public access to poison control centers. Results from a natural experiment. Med Care. 1998;36:271-80.   DOI
18 Descamps AK, De Paepe P, Buylaert WA, et al. Belgian Poison Centre impact on healthcare expenses of unintentional poisonings: a cost-benefit analysis. Int J Public Health. 2019;64:1283-90.   DOI
19 Spiller HA, Griffith JR. The value and evolving role of the U.S. Poison Control Center System. Public Health Rep. 2009;124:359-63.   DOI
20 Dierick-van Daele AT, Spreeuwenberg C, Derckx EW, et al. Critical appraisal of the literature on economic evaluations of substitution of skills between professionals: a systematic literature review. J Eval Clin Pract. 2008;14:481-92.   DOI
21 Blizzard JC, Michels JE, Richardson WH, et al. Cost-benefit analysis of a regional poison center. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008;46:450-6.   DOI
22 Bunn TL, Slavova S, Spiller HA, et al. The effect of poison control center consultation on accidental poisoning inpatient hospitalizations with preexisting medical conditions. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2008;71:283-8.   DOI
23 Kearney TE, Olson KR, Bero LA, et al. Health care cost effects of public use of a regional poison control center. West J Med. 1995;162:499-504.
24 Chun B. Economic evaluation of vaccinations - a methodologic review. Pediatr Infect Vaccine. 2008;15:19-28.
25 Moon SW, Kang TW, Oh HR, et al. 2017 Basic analysis report of Korea health panel study(I). 2019;86.
26 Levine M, Flores J, Seabury SA, et al. Impact of the Use of Regional Poison Control Centers in an Urban EMS Dispatch System. J Med Toxicol. 2017;13:47-51.   DOI