Costs were estimated using the bottom-up and human capital approaches. The three phases of identification, measurement, and valuation of resources were used to estimate the average cost imposed by the illness. 10 (link)
To this end, the Persian version of the work productivity and activity impairment in patients with asthma (WPAI-AQ) questionnaire was used. The reliability and validity of the Persian version of the questionnaire were already confirmed in a previous study. 17 (link)
The questionnaire includes 34 items divided into three sections. The first section includes items related to demographic and anthropometric variables, such as socioeconomic, smoking, and insurance status. The second section covers asthma severity such as grade and symptoms. Finally, the third section includes items related to direct medical and non-medical costs as well as indirect expenditures. Direct medical costs include the actual costs to patients and those covered by insurance companies, e.g., physician office visits, radiology, laboratory, and diagnostic tests (spirometry, oximetry), prescription medication, emergency visits, and hospitalization. Depending on the type of health care insurance, 30%-70% of the costs are covered by insurance companies. Non-medical costs include payments by patients for travel, lodging, and transportation. In addition, indirect costs were also addressed in the WPAI-AQ questionnaire and covered the costs related to the effect of the disease on the quality of life due to impairment, productivity loss due to activity impairment, and days lost from work/school.
The participants were instructed by an expert on how to complete the self-report WPAI-AQ questionnaire. They were requested to complete the questionnaire quarterly for one year, either in one of the clinics or through a telephone interview.
To this end, the Persian version of the work productivity and activity impairment in patients with asthma (WPAI-AQ) questionnaire was used. The reliability and validity of the Persian version of the questionnaire were already confirmed in a previous study. 17 (link)
The questionnaire includes 34 items divided into three sections. The first section includes items related to demographic and anthropometric variables, such as socioeconomic, smoking, and insurance status. The second section covers asthma severity such as grade and symptoms. Finally, the third section includes items related to direct medical and non-medical costs as well as indirect expenditures. Direct medical costs include the actual costs to patients and those covered by insurance companies, e.g., physician office visits, radiology, laboratory, and diagnostic tests (spirometry, oximetry), prescription medication, emergency visits, and hospitalization. Depending on the type of health care insurance, 30%-70% of the costs are covered by insurance companies. Non-medical costs include payments by patients for travel, lodging, and transportation. In addition, indirect costs were also addressed in the WPAI-AQ questionnaire and covered the costs related to the effect of the disease on the quality of life due to impairment, productivity loss due to activity impairment, and days lost from work/school.
The participants were instructed by an expert on how to complete the self-report WPAI-AQ questionnaire. They were requested to complete the questionnaire quarterly for one year, either in one of the clinics or through a telephone interview.
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