Abstract:
The objectives of this study were to analyze the cost of bacterial diarrhea from provider perspective at Saraburi Hospital; to compare costs among patient categories and to formulate the cost function. This study was a retrospective study using the incidence-based approach. The data were tested for the difference among groups by
nonparametric statistics. In addition, stepwise multiple regression was employed to create cost modelling. The study covered 393 episodes. The average costs were 451.59 baht, 3,903.48 baht, and 2,250.38 baht per outpatient episode, inpatient episode, and average episode, respectively. Explanatory variables including ICDs and DRGs groups were tested. It was found that the cost for outpatients was associated with number of visits, department of patients visit, and antibiotic prescribing. Costs for inpatients were associated with length of stay, type of pathogens (ICD), antibiotic prescribing, fever, age, and payment scheme. In case of forecasting at the beginning of treatment, type of patient (out or inpatient), type of pathogen (ICD), antibiotic prescribing, fever, age, and payment scheme were significant variables. All the models had high determination coefficients of 0.845-0.880. The costs from this study were similar to the average patient costs of other hospitals of the same size. Comparing the cost for inpatient and the reimbursed amount according to the DRG, showed the efficiency of administration because the cost was lower than the amount received. The analysis of explanatory variables in cost function illustrated higher determination coefficients, which is beneficial in application. The results from this study could be used as information for disease and hospital management. This would lead to achievement of efficient utilization of scarce resources."