Annadata Shanmukh P, Ragupathy Sneha, S Rekha, Isaac Tanya S, Kg Gayathri, Venugopal Vidhya
General Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai, IND.
General Medicine, American University of Antigua, Osbourn, ATG.
Cureus. 2024 Dec 13;16(12):e75631. doi: 10.7759/cureus.75631. eCollection 2024 Dec.
Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent in India, particularly among underprivileged populations. Government initiatives such as the Dr. YSR Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme aim to provide affordable healthcare to economically impoverished individuals with kidney diseases. This study assessed participants' perceptions of the scheme's benefits, effectiveness, and challenges. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, involving 100 CKD patients. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic factors, insurance scheme's awareness, perceived benefits, and effectiveness. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors influencing participants' perceptions. Results Participants aged over 40 years were more likely to perceive the Dr. YSR Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme positively (crude odds ratio {COR}: 9.2; 95% CI: 2.6-31.7). Males (adjusted odds ration {aOR} 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1), married individuals (aOR 1.3; 95% CI: 0.8-1.7), and those with higher education (aOR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.2) reported greater scheme effectiveness. However, 32% of CKD patients lacked awareness of the scheme's enrolment process, 29% believed that the eligibility criteria were too strict, and 17% of insured patients reported gaps in coverage for specific services, treatments, and medications, reducing the scheme's appeal to diseased patients. Discussion Older males and those with diabetes, who require extensive care, perceive the scheme as beneficial. However, gaps in awareness and coverage remain barriers to its full effectiveness. Conclusion While the Dr. YSR Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme provides critical financial relief for CKD patients, enhancing its outreach and expanding coverage could improve its impact. These findings can guide policy improvements to optimize the scheme's effectiveness and accessibility.
慢性肾脏病（CKD）在印度很普遍，尤其是在弱势群体中。政府发起的诸如YSR Aarogyasri博士健康保险计划等举措旨在为患有肾脏疾病的经济贫困个体提供负担得起的医疗保健。本研究评估了参与者对该计划的益处、有效性和挑战的看法。
在安得拉邦内洛尔进行了一项横断面研究，涉及100名CKD患者。使用结构化问卷收集数据，该问卷评估社会人口学因素、保险计划的知晓度、感知到的益处和有效性。采用多变量逻辑回归分析来确定影响参与者看法的因素。
40岁以上的参与者更有可能对YSR Aarogyasri博士健康保险计划持积极看法（粗比值比{COR}：9.2；95%置信区间：2.6 - 31.7）。男性（调整后比值比{aOR} 1.5；95%置信区间：1.1 - 2.1）、已婚个体（aOR 1.3；95%置信区间：0.8 - 1.7）以及受过高等教育的人（aOR 1.9；95%置信区间：1.1 - 3.2）报告该计划的有效性更高。然而，32%的CKD患者不了解该计划的参保流程，29%的人认为资格标准过于严格，17%的参保患者报告在特定服务、治疗和药物的覆盖范围上存在差距，这降低了该计划对患病患者的吸引力。
年龄较大的男性以及患有糖尿病且需要广泛护理的人认为该计划有益。然而，知晓度和覆盖范围的差距仍然是其充分发挥效力的障碍。
虽然YSR Aarogyasri博士健康保险计划为CKD患者提供了关键的经济救济，但加强其宣传推广并扩大覆盖范围可以提高其影响力。这些发现可为政策改进提供指导，以优化该计划的有效性和可及性。
