Abstract:
This study used cost-identification analysis research design to study the direct cost of nursing service based on the Nursing Intervention Classification System at the Surgical-Orthopedic Nursing Department, and to compare the differences of the direct cost of nursing service between five groups of patients classification and between two types of patient wards. the sample was 104 nursing interventions collected from 466,710 recorded in the computer databases of nursing information system, Ramathibodi Hospital. They were recorded for a period of three months starting from November 1, 2001 to January 31, 2002. Research instruments included 1) daily nursing intervention record from, 2) nursing staffs' salary record form, 3) survey sheet of equipment and staff nurses categories, 4) record from on the number of staff nurse on ward duty, and 5) record form for nursing direct cost analysis. The instruments were tested for content validity. Statistical tests for data analysis included percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and one way analysis of variance. Major findings were as follows: 1. Nursing intervention that had lthe highest nursing service direct cost was the nursing intervention code number 6320 : Resuscitation. The intervention used mean time of 20 minutes, mean salary of 57.48 bahts, and mean equipment cost of 48.20 bahts, which were analysed as a direct cost of nursing service 105.68 bahts. Four factors responsible for the direct cost of nursing service. They were staff nurse salary, number of staff nurse involves in carry out the intervention, time spend on the intervention and cost of equipment used in the intervention. 2. Means of nursing service direct cost for 63 nursing intervention were statistically differences between patient class I, II, III, IV, and V at the level of .05. Means of nursing service direct cost for 54 nursing intervention were statistically differences between the service provided at the general ward and the private ward, at the level of .05