Economic Burden of Psoriasis

Psoriasis may cause a substantial economic burden to patients, health service providers, third parties, and the society as a whole. However, all of these costs may not be adequately considered when assessing the treatment costs for psoriasis. Psoriasis may negatively affect work productivity as psoriasis has a relatively high incidence in working age people that lead to possible costs because of lost productivity. The aims of this thesis were to estimate the economic burden of psoriasis particularly from patients’ and health service providers’ perspectives and to estimate the background factors (e.g., severity of psoriasis) that may have led to high costs. Another aim was to estimate the total medication costs and to estimate psoriasis’ proportion of health-related productivity losses. The patient sample was based on patients with psoriasis who visited the Department of Dermatology in Turku University Hospital during a one-year study period. These patients were sent a questionnaire. From the patients who gave consent, medication information, clinical information, and number of visits to Turku University Hospital were collected. This data was linked to the information from the questionnaire. Overall psoriasis was estimated to cause a substantial economic burden for the patient, health service provider, health insurance system, employer, and the society as a whole. The direct costs represented only a small proportion of the overall financial burden of psoriasis, whereas indirect costs were significant. The estimated annual costs for patients and employers were almost twice the costs to health service providers or the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. In conclusion, the cost contribution of patients and employers should be considered when assessing the costs of different treatments, in addition to commonly studied direct costs of medications and costs to health service providers. Methods used to assess these costs should be well justified and be described clearly to allow comparisons between studies and to evaluate the quality of the results.

Productivity development at construction branch after the last recession

EPC 2006 kansainvälinen tuottavuuskonfrenssi

Nitrogen and phosphorus losses in surface runoff and drainage water after application of slurry and mineral fertilizer to perennial grass ley

Selostus: Typen ja fosforin kulkeutuminen pinta- ja salaojavalunnassa lietelannalla ja NKP-lannoitteella lannoitetulta nurmelta

Comparison of methods for estimation of needle losses in Scots pine following defoliation by Bupalus piniaria

Abstract

Nitrogen and phosphorus losses from a feedlot for suckler cows

Selostus: Typpi- ja fosforikuormitus emolehmien ulkotarhassa

Reduced tillage: influence on erosion and nutrient losses in a clayey field in southern Finland

Selostus: Aurattoman viljelyn vaikutus eroosioon ja ravinnehuuhtoumiin eteläsuomlaisella, savimaalla sijaitsevalla pellolla

Effects of three harvesting work methods on Harwarder productivity in final felling

Abstract

Historical logging, productivity, and structural characteristics of boreal coniferous forests in Norway

Abstract

The effects of productivity on profitability: a case study at firm level using an activity-based costing approach

Productivity and profitability are important concepts and measures describing the performance and success of a firm. We know that increase in productivity decreases the costs per unit produced and leads to better profitability. This common knowledge is not, however, enough in the modern business environment. Productivity improvement is one means among others for increasing the profitability of actions. There are many means to increase productivity. The use of these means presupposes operative decisions and these decisions presuppose informationabout the effects of these means. Productivity improvement actions are in general made at floor level with machines, cells, activities and human beings. Profitability is most meaningful at the level of the whole firm. It has been very difficult or even impossible to analyze closely enough the economical aspects of thechanges at floor level with the traditional costing systems. New ideas in accounting have only recently brought in elements which make it possible to considerthese phenomena where they actually happen. The aim of this study is to supportthe selection of objects to productivity improvement, and to develop a method to analyze the effects of the productivity change in an activity on the profitability of a firm. A framework for systemizing the economical management of productivity improvement is developed in this study. This framework is a systematical way with two stages to analyze the effects of productivity improvement actions inan activity on the profitability of a firm. At the first stage of the framework, a simple selection method which is based on the worth, possibility and the necessity of the improvement actions in each activity is presented. This method is called Urgency Analysis. In the second stage it is analyzed how much a certain change of productivity in an activity affects the profitability of a firm. A theoretical calculation model with which it is possible to analyze the effects of a productivity improvement in monetary values is presented. On the basis of this theoretical model a tool is made for the analysis at the firm level. The usefulness of this framework was empirically tested with the data of the profit center of one medium size Finnish firm which operates in metal industry. It is expressedthat the framework provides valuable information about the economical effects of productivity improvement for supporting the management in their decision making.

Procurement, Quality and Productivity Enhancements and Manufacturing Strategy Formulation Applying Product Life Cycle Method

The objective of the thesis was to create a framework that can be used to define a manufacturing strategy taking advantage of the product life cycle method, which enables PQP enhancements. The starting point was to study synkron implementation of cost leadership and differentiation strategies in different stages of the life cycles. It was soon observed that Porter’s strategies were too generic for the complex and dynamic environment where customer needs deviate market and product specifically. Therefore, the strategy formulation process is based on the Terry Hill’s order-winner and qualifier concepts. The manufacturing strategy formulation is initiated with the definition of order-winning and qualifying criteria. From these criteria there can be shaped product specific proposals for action and production site specific key manufacturing tasks that they need to answer in order to meet customers and markets needs. As a future research it is suggested that the process of capturing order-winners and qualifiers should be developed so that the process would be simple and streamlined at Wallac Oy. In addition, defined strategy process should be integrated to the PerkinElmer’s SGS process. SGS (Strategic Goal Setting) is one of the PerkinElmer’s core management processes. Full Text: Null