Resource Efficiency

Efficiency… how can any caring person and any researcher in health care think families should be efficient… families aren't machines!

The above is a typical response to studying individuals and families from an efficiency framework.

"Efficiency of Family Resources is a Family Perspective"

Family Resources include their knowledge, time, their physical and economic ability to provide care for an ill loved one. We know that we can teach families to conserve their resources for the long haul. And the Data Envelopment Analysis Cost Benefit Analysis Approach allows for meaningful variables, not just costs, to be put in the equation. Variables such as perceived burden of care, quality of life measures, sick days lost from work due to caregiving, assistance available from extended family or neighbors.

DEA cost benefit analysis is also a "relative" analysis. Relative means comparing families with the same or similar types of economic and caregiving resources.