Discounting money and health effects from communicable and noncommunicable diseases in Thailand.

The purpose of this study was to determine the discount rates for money and health outcomes in the Thai context, including the discount rates for communicable and non-communicable diseases. Moreover, this study aimed to explore the socio-demographic characteristics that influence discounting. The computer-based experimental design was used to obtain time preferences for money and health in a total of 1202 Chiang Mai province population, aged 25-50, individually interviewed by trained interviewers.

Fetal Down syndrome screening models for developing countries; Part II: Cost-benefit analysis.

Background: To identify the most cost-beneficial model as a national policy of screening and diagnosis of fetal Down syndrome (DS) in developing countries.

Methods: Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) was performed based on the effectiveness and probabilities derived from a large prospective study on MSS (maternal serum screening) among Thai population. Various models including maternal age alone, STS (second trimester screen), I-S (independent screen: first or second trimester screen depending on the time of first visit), C-S (contingent serum screen) plus STS, maternal age with NIPS (non-invasive prenatal test), STS alone with NIPS, I-S with NIPS, C-S plus STS with NIPS, and Universal NIPS were compared.

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Outcome in Comparing an Alginate Silver Dressing With a Conventional Treatment of a Necrotizing Fasciitis Wound.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a high morbidity and mortality disease and also demands high economic resources. The standard treatment of NF is surgical debridement and proper dressing for wound bed preparation. The efficacy of silver alginate dressing can inhibit the growth of microorganisms and keep the environment clean for wound bed preparation.

Access to antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients in Chiang Mai province, Thailand.

The objective of this study is to investigate the access to antiretroviral treatment among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients in Chiang Mai province, Thailand. Access to antiretroviral treatment is defined in terms of availability, affordability, and acceptability. The data for the study were collected during the period of April 1, 2012-May 31, 2012 from a sample of 380 HIV/AIDS patients in eight hospitals who had received antiretroviral treatment for more than 6 months at the time of data collection.