Effectiveness and Cost Analysis of Community-Based Rehabilitation Service in Bangkok
SUTTHICHAI JITAPUNKUL, M.D., M.Sc. *, SRICHITRA BUNNAG, M.D., Ph.D.*, SHAH EBRAHIM, M.R.C.P., D.M.**
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. ** Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free Hospital Medical School, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract This paper aimed to clarify the effectiveness and the cost of the community-based rehabi- litation service in Klong Toey slum after a three year study period. One hundred and seventy eight patients used community-based rehabilitation during the three year period. One hundred and fifty-seven patients (86.5%) reported that their problems/conditions were cured or improved. Only nine patients (5.1%) reported that they stopped using community-based rehabilitation because their problems/conditions did not improve. A statistically significant improvement in pain level and walking velocity assessment, in 105 and 78 patients respectively, was demonstrated. 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 this community-based rehabilitation service was compared with an estimated cost per patient-day of using rehabilitation services at Chulalongkorn University Hospital and was found to be cheaper. This study supported the role of community-based rehabili- tation in Thailand. The need for a health service study in rural areas was also noted.
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