DEMAND PROJECTION FOR SIMPLE KNEE ARTHROPLASTY AND ESTIMATION OF THE OPPORTUNITY COSTS AND WAITING TIME AMONG PATIENTS AND FAMILIES IN THAILAND

Abstract

Gonarthrosis is the one of most common disease in the elderly. The incidence of Gonarthrosis is not enough document. Gonarthrosis can cause the disability to the patient and cause the psychological problems to patients and families. Nowaday, the method for treatment are medicaatment, muscle strengthening, and surgical treatment. In the present, the arthroplasty is the most common treatment. In this present, waiting time for operation is still long, depended on number of patients. For this research, I separated to 2 parts. First, interview the arthroplasty surgeons and second interview the patients. Then collected the data and regression with StataV.12 and significant level are 1%, 5% and 10% Results the factor that influence to the opportunity cause are waiting time, education level (higher than bachelor degree is 11841 baht) and paid for caretaker (4406 baht) and high income family. From this research, if we can reduce waiting time, we can get rid of opportunity cost for patient and family.