بار اقتصادی درمان و مراقبت جراحات سوختگی در بیمارستان طالقانی اهواز

Background and Aim: Burn injury as a devastating injury causing severe losses and early death. Treatment of burned patients is very expensive. The main purpose of this study was to calculate the economic burden of burn injuries in a hospital. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in in Taleghani hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2015. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 315 patients participated in the study. Data was collected through interviews with patients or their relatives on the day of discharge. In addition, patient medical records and bills were used. Data was analyzed using SPSS (V.22) software. Results: The mean total cost of an inpatient with burns was 117,071,803 Rials (US$ 4,063) and the mean daily cost was 8,501,946 Rials (US$ 295). Direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs and indirect costs accounted for 94.1, 1.4 and 4.5 percent of the total cost. The average direct cost was 3,880 $US of which 98.5% was direct medical costs and 1.5% was direct non-medical costs. Patient’s out of pocket payment was 7.7 percent of the total direct costs. Surgery and drugs accounted for the largest fraction of the total costs. The average patient indirect cost was 183 $US. Conclusion: The total cost of the treatment of burn patients in the hospital was high which is imposed to patients, their relatives, government and health insurance companies. Government and insurance companies should provide financial protection for patients.