ต้นทุนทางเศรษฐศาสตร์ของผู้ป่วยภาวะปากแหว่งเพดานโหว่ใน 8 จังหวัดภาคเหนือตอนบน

Abstract

This study aims to determine the economic cost of cleft lip and cleft palate patients aged 0 to 15 admitted to Maharaj ChiangMai Hospital in Chiang Mai Province. This research is a quantitative study with 100 participants via questionnaires. The study utilized the following statistics: frequency, percentage, minimum value, maximum value, and average. Results of the survey of general information of patients and relatives, direct costs, and indirect costs found (1) The majority of patients had cleft lip and palate. The average cost of attending a public school is 5,381.00 baht per person per year, whereas a private school costs 17,500.00 baht per person per year. Most of the patients' family work 5–6 days a week as general laborers with an average monthly income of 15,781 baht. (2) Direct medical costs. Patients will have an average additional expense of 9,182.00 baht for every visit. The minimal cost is 0 baht per time since patients have entered the Beautiful Smile, Beautiful Voice Project supported by the government; therefore, patients do not have to pay any fees. (3) Non-medical direct costs. The average travel expenses are 1,024.00 baht per time. The average accommodation cost is 524.00 baht per time, and the average eating cost is 563.00 baht per time on a trip for medical treatment. (4) Indirect costs. Admission to the outpatient department, the patient incurred an opportunity cost in education on average equal to 61.02 baht per person each day of patients studying in public schools and 187.06 baht per person per day of patients studying in private schools with an average value equal to 124.04 baht per person per day. The patient's relatives will lose income from absence on average equal to 322.95 baht per person daily. The educational opportunity cost of ward patients in government schools patients can calculate as 77.44 baht per case per time, and patients studying in private schools with a value of 283.56 baht per patient per visit. The average value is 180.50 baht per patient for every visit to the inpatient department. Family income loss due to absenteeism averaged 3,490.39 baht per person per time in the inpatient department. The economic cost of working-age patients with cleft lip and cleft palate admitted to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai province, found that the overall economic cost of working-age patients tends to increase when the patients can work. In addition, the estimation of the total economic cost of cleft lip and cleft palate patients in Thailand tends to increase. Patients with cleft lip and cleft palate aged 15 years that can work will make the average of the entire cost of 1 patient equal to 14,006,440.84 baht or 36,808,926,528 baht per cleft palate patient nationwide if the patient receives treatment and enters working age. Thailand will have more income and may create more value for the country. The government supports patients to have access to therapy comprehensively and can increase hospitals in each province to give complete care in all stages of treatment, thus minimizing patient travel.