Cost of informal care for diabetic patients in Thailand

AimsThe study estimated the cost of informal care for 475 randomly selected diabetic patients as identified by International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision (ICD-10 codes = E10–E14) and who received treatment at Waritchaphum hospital in Sakhon Nakhon province of Thailand during the financial year 2008.MethodsInformal care was valued by using revealed preference method. Information of informal caregiving was collected through direct personal interview method either from the patients or from the caregivers. The data on time spent for informal care were collected by using recall method.ResultsThe study covered a total of 190 informal caregivers. Average time spent on informal care was 112.38 h per month. The estimated cost of informal care was USD 110,713.08 using opportunity cost approach and USD 93,896.52 using proxy good method in 2008 (1 USD = 32 Thai Baht).ConclusionsThe study concluded that the hidden cost associated with informal caregiving is a burden for the Thai society. Hence, the economic cost associated with informal caregiving should be considered for future analyses of both the public health consequences of diabetes and interventions aimed at decreasing diabetic complications.