Table 3

Changes to threshold (expressed as a ratio) when individual cost elements are adjusted by 1%

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Actual (A$)

Threshold (number of patients)

+ 0.5%

-0.5%

Change

Ratio (%)

Rank

Telepaediatrics

Equipment (incl. interest)

128,191.01

774.36

775.14

773.58

1.56

0.20

3

ISDN installation

2655.00

774.36

774.37

774.34

0.03

0.00

9

ISDN line rental

32,400.00

774.36

774.56

774.16

0.39

0.05

6

Coordinators

475,000.00

774.36

777.24

771.48

5.76

0.74

2

ISDN call costs

65,400.00

774.36

774.56

774.15

0.41

0.05

6

RCH consultants

109,000.00

774.36

774.70

774.02

0.68

0.09

4

RCH nursing/allied health

27,250.00

774.36

774.44

774.27

0.17

0.02

7

Regional presenter

81,750.00

774.36

774.61

774.10

0.51

0.07

5

Regional admin support

16,350.00

774.36

774.41

774.31

0.10

0.01

8

Project costs

18,000.00

774.36

774.41

774.30

0.11

0.01

8

Conventional outpatients

RCH consultants

109,000.00

774.36

774.70

774.02

0.68

0.09

4

RCH nursing/allied health

27,250.00

774.36

774.27

774.44

-0.17

-0.02

7

RCH admin support

16,350.00

774.36

774.31

774.41

-0.10

-0.01

8

Patient travel

1,391,670.00

774.36

770.02

778.74

-8.72

-1.13

1

Patient accommodation

8994.00

774.36

774.33

774.39

-0.06

-0.01

8

Legend

Column A

Description of cost

Column B

Original value of cost (in current evaluation)

Column C

Original number of patients required to reach the point of threshold

Column D

Adjusted threshold point when unit cost increased by 0.5%

Column E

Adjusted threshold point when unit cost decreased by 0.5%

Column F

Difference in threshold = (D-E)

Column G

(Difference in threshold/original threshold) × 100

Column H

Rank – most sensitive (1) to least sensitive (9) to change

Smith et al. BMC Health Services Research 2007 7:35   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-7-35