Shrestha M K, Thakur J, Gurung C K, Joshi A B, Pokhrel S, Ruit S
Tilganga Eye Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Br J Ophthalmol. 2004 Mar;88(3):319-20. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2003.026260.
A cross sectional study was carried out on 78 screened cataract patients of two screening camps in Kathmandu valley, Nepal, to assess the willingness to pay for cataract surgery.
A non-probability sampling technique with open ended and close ended questionnaires was used.
The average age of patients was 68.8 years. The ratio of men and women was 0.9:1. 42.3% (33) of patients were willing to pay for cataract surgery. Among them 48.5% (16) of people were willing to pay less than dollars 13 and 51.5% (17) were willing to pay more than dollars 13. The mean was dollars 2.3 (SD dollars 15.5) per case. Patients with bilateral cataract were more willing to pay than unilateral cases. Poverty (44.4%, 20) was the main barrier for unwillingness to pay for cataract surgery. Other reasons were the lack of family support (28.9%, 13), lack of knowledge of surgery and belief that it was an unnecessary procedure (15.6%, seven), and waiting for a free surgical service (11.1%, five).
This study clearly indicates that although there was awareness of the availability of treatment and services provided within the reach, people are not willing to pay for the surgery and use the facility primarily because of poverty. Hence, to change patients' attitudes, a more holistic approach is needed, keeping in view the cultural, social, and economic background of the society.
在尼泊尔加德满都谷地的两个筛查营地，对78名经筛查的白内障患者进行了一项横断面研究，以评估他们对白内障手术的支付意愿。
采用非概率抽样技术，使用开放式和封闭式问卷。
患者的平均年龄为68.8岁。男女比例为0.9:1。42.3%（33名）患者愿意支付白内障手术费用。其中，48.5%（16人）愿意支付低于13美元，51.5%（17人）愿意支付超过13美元。每例的平均费用为2.3美元（标准差为15.5美元）。双侧白内障患者比单侧白内障患者更愿意支付。贫困（44.4%，20人）是不愿意支付白内障手术费用的主要障碍。其他原因包括缺乏家庭支持（28.9%，13人）、对手术缺乏了解以及认为手术不必要（15.6%，7人），以及等待免费手术服务（11.1%，5人）。
本研究清楚地表明，尽管人们知道可获得力所能及的治疗和服务，但主要由于贫困，人们不愿意支付手术费用并使用该设施。因此，为了改变患者的态度，需要采取更全面的方法，同时考虑到社会的文化、社会和经济背景。
