Skip to main content
PMC home page
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1979 Aug;69(8):814–816. doi: 10.2105/ajph.69.8.814

Self care for colds: a cost-effective alternative to upper respiratory infection management.

J Zapka, B W Averill
PMCID: PMC1619260  PMID: 453417

Abstract

A Cold Self-Care (CSC) Center was established in a prepaid ambulatory care setting serving 21,500 subscribers and their dependents. After CSC establishment, a decrease in visits to practitioners for common colds was demonstrated. The operating cost ratio of an outpatient visit as compared to a CSC visit was 14.7/1. Savings over a two-year period are estimated at over $46,000, representing an average estimated ratio of $.09 cost per dollar saved per member per year.

Full text

PDF
816

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Averill B. W. Use of automated information systems in the management and evaluation of college health programs. J Am Coll Health Assoc. 1970 Oct;19(1):67–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Becker M. H., Haefner D. P., Kasl S. V., Kirscht J. P., Maiman L. A., Rosenstock I. M. Selected psychosocial models and correlates of individual health-related behaviors. Med Care. 1977 May;15(5 Suppl):27–46. doi: 10.1097/00005650-197705001-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. EVANS A. S., DICK E. C. ACUTE PHARYNGITIS AND TONSILLITIS IN UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN STUDENTS. JAMA. 1964 Nov 23;190:699–708. doi: 10.1001/jama.1964.03070210005001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Elliott-Binns C. P. An analysis of lay medicine. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1973 Apr;23(129):255–264. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Green L. W., Werlin S. H., Schauffler H. H., Avery C. H. Research and demonstration issues in self-care: measuring the decline of medicocentrism. Health Educ Monogr. 1977 Summer;5(2):161–189. doi: 10.1177/109019817700500206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Greenfield S., Bragg F. E., McCraith D. L., Blackburn J. Upper-respiratory tract complaint protocol for physician-extenders. Arch Intern Med. 1974 Feb;133(2):294–299. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Katz H. P., Clancy R. R. Accuracy of a home throat culture program: a study of parent participation in health care. Pediatrics. 1974 May;53(5):687–691. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Nelson T. M. Personal symptomatology of those suffering from the common cold. J Am Coll Health Assoc. 1971 Apr;19(4):256–257. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. SUMMERSKILL J., DARLING C. D. Group differences in the incidence of upper respiratory complaints among college students. Psychosom Med. 1957 Jul-Aug;19(4):315–319. doi: 10.1097/00006842-195707000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Throop W. F., MacDonald A. P., Jr Internal-external locus of control: a bibliography. Psychol Rep. 1971 Feb;28(1):175–190. doi: 10.2466/pr0.1971.28.1.175. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Ware J. E., Jr, Wright W. R., Snyder M. K., Chu G. C. Consumer perceptions of health care services: implications for academic medicine. J Med Educ. 1975 Sep;50(9):839–848. doi: 10.1097/00001888-197509000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Zapka J., Estabrook B. B. Medical self-care programs. Health Care Manage Rev. 1976 Fall;1(4):75–81. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES