[Efficiency and cost-effectiveness for a safety device].

When dealing with preventive measures, it is necessary to evaluate their effectiveness and to analyze the costs involved in implementing those measures. Therefore, the authors carried out a before-after intervention study on the use of a safe intravenous peripheral catheter in emergency ward services; this study included the participation by workers in selecting material by means of a Likert questionnaire. The effectiveness of a safe intravenous peripheral catheter was calculated comparing skin accidents caused by this device 40 months before and after its implantation. An economic analysis was calculated by means of a cost-effectiveness index fined as a "Euros spent for accident prevented" index. Workers who participated chose a passive safe intravenous peripheral catheter (p < 0.05). During the pre-intervention period, 17 intravenous peripheral catheter expositions were declared, during the post-intervention period, none were declared. The total net cost per intervention came to 36.606 Euro. The cost effectiveness index was 2.579,3 Euro for accident prevented.