Non-medical Cost and Quality of Life of People With Oral Diseases

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine non-medical costs and quality of life and of people with oral diseases. Data were collected from 143 subjects in Krabi community between August - September 2019 with a data collecting form, a general quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), and a specific oral quality of life questionnaire (the oral impacts on daily performance inventory: OIDP). The study found that 71.33% of the subjects had gingivitis, 20.98% had periodontitis and 0.70% had full denture. A half of the subjects were female (50.35%), average age 40.04±14.45 years old, employed (45.07%), using Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) or state enterprise benefits (51.41%). The average utility score was 0.96±0.05 and average score of OIDP was 4.42±8.11%. The OIDP scores in subgroup of normal, gingivitis and periodontitis subjects were 2.90±5.34%, 4.50±8.37% and 4.80±8.22% respectively. For non-medical costs of oral disease treatment, composed of direct nonmedical cost such as average transportation cost 83.04±131.59 baht and extra food cost 73.50±80.46 baht, and indirect cost such as the average cost of patients’ opportunity loss 344.94±232.22 baht and the caregivers’ opportunity loss 302.61±416.24 Baht. Therefore, oral diseases have not only affected patient’s quality of life but also extra expenditures from general medical carecosts. Healthcare policy makers should apply this information to further evaluate the health economics effects to oral disease treatment.