Activity-Based Cost Analysis of Speech-Language Therapy Services: A Comparison between Conventional Therapy versus Teletherapy For Paediatric Population
Cost Analysis of Speech-language Therapy Services
Abstract
Activity-based cost analysis is a gold standard in economic evaluation. Despite reports on the costs of conventional and virtual healthcare services, limited studies demonstrated the costs of speech-language therapy services, especially those comparing the costs of conventional speech-language therapy versus teletherapy. This study aims to compare the costs invested by caregivers, student clinicians (SCs) and the service institution (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) for speech-language intervention programs at the university that were delivered via conventional face-to-face sessions and telesessions. A total of 18 caregiver-SC dyads were recruited. All therapy activities and materials used in each therapy session were coded and analysed using a micro-costing form. Administrative costs were also documented. Overall, face-to-face therapy costs higher than teletherapy. However, cost differences were only significant for the caregivers and SCs. These findings are useful in determining service delivery approaches and support for service consumers.
Keywords :
Cost analysis; speech-language therapy; telerehabilitation,
Abstrak
Analisis kos berasaskan aktiviti merupakan piawai emas dalam penilaian ekonomi. Walaupun terdapat laporan terdahulu mengenai kos perkhidmatan penjagaan kesihatan secara konvensional dan juga perkhidmatan secara maya, kajian yang melaporkan kos perkhidmatan terapi pertuturan-bahasa masih terhad, khususnya kajian yang membandingkan kos terapi pertuturan-bahasa konvensional dengan teleterapi. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk membandingkan kos yang ditanggung oleh penjaga, pelajar klinikal (SC) dan institusi perkhidmatan (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) bagi program intervensi pertuturan-bahasa di klinik universiti yang dilaksanakan melalui sesi bersemuka secara konvensional dan telesesi. Seramai 18 pasangan penjaga-SC telah direkrut dalam kajian. Semua aktiviti terapi dan bahan yang digunakan dalam setiap sesi terapi dikodkan dan dianalisis menggunakan borang kos mikro. Kos pentadbiran turut didokumentasikan. Secara keseluruhan, kos terapi bersemuka adalah lebih tinggi berbanding teleterapi. Walau bagaimanapun, perbezaan kos hanya signifikan bagi penjaga dan SC. Penemuan ini berguna dalam menentukan pendekatan penyampaian perkhidmatan serta sokongan kepada pengguna perkhidmatan.
Kata Kunci :
Analisis kos; telerehabilitasi; terapi pertuturan-bahasa,
Correspondance Address
*Correspondence: fatimahhani@ukm.edu.my
