Abstract
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.