Effectiveness and cost analysis of community-based rehabilitation service in Bangkok
Jitapunkul, S.; Bunnag, S.; Ebrahim, S.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 81(8): 572-578
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 9737109 Document Number: 6639
As the cost of health care has become a major concern, governmental and nongovernmental organizations have looked to rehabilitation services to prevent the more costly use of the health care system in the future. Findings are presented on the effectiveness and cost of the community-based rehabilitation service in Klong Toey slum after a 3-year study period. 178 patients of mean age 64.2 years used the community-based rehabilitation services between June 1992 and May 1995. 157 of these patients, 86.5%, reported that their problems/conditions were cured or improved, while 9 patients reported that they stopped using community-based rehabilitation because their problems/conditions failed to improve. 105 and 78 patients experienced a statistically significant improvement in pain level and walking velocity assessment, respectively. Total cost and cost per patient-day of the community-based rehabilitation were Bt 559,920 and Bt 111.1, respectively. Cost per patient-day of the service was compared with an estimated cost per patient-day of using rehabilitation services at Chulalongkorn University Hospital and found to be cheaper. These study findings support the role of community-based rehabilitation in Thailand.
Document emailed within 1 workday
