The aim of this paper was to investigate how studies of nursing prctices apply economic evaluations. A literature review was conducted that included studies through August 2007. the search was performed using Medline, CINAHL, Psycinfo, Ecinlit, DARE, HTA, NHS EED, Cochrane reviews and clinical trials with a search term connected to nursing and health economics. Protocols were used in the screening procedure and the result is reported in a descriptive form. the search identified 115 studies published between 1984 and August 2007. Studies were found in the following nursing practices: provision of support and treatment (n=17); assessing suffering/well-being (n=1), preventing or treating ill health (n=53); and organization of individual care (n=44). In 22% of all the studies, the authors explicitly presented the health economic method used. In 25% of all studies, the perspective of the economic analysis was explicitly stated and a large variability in cost was considered in the analysis. In 82 studies, the authors reported cost-effective interventions. Although economic evaluation of nursing practice has increased, it is still a rather small area. According to the items elucidated in this study, further methodological improvement is needed to evaluate the economics of nursing.
Hälsoekonomiska studier inom omvårdnad är sällsynta. I denna litterturöversikt identifierades 115 studier. I 22 procent av studierna anger författarna vilken hälsoekonomisk metod som använt. I 25% av studierna anges det ekonomiska perspektivet som valts. I 82 studier anger författarna att interventionen varit kostnadseffektiv.