C.F. Lee, Daniel Y.T. Fong, Kenneth M.C. Cheung, Jack C.Y. Cheng, Bobby K.W. Ng, T.P. Lam, K.H. Mak, Paul S.F. Yip, Keith D.K. Luk
Abstract
Introduction: School screening cost for scoliosis reported widely varied which mainly due to the incomplete inclusion of cost items.
Objectives: To fully estimate the costs of the Hong Kong scoliosis screening program through a large, population-based study.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 115,190 screened students who were in grade 5 in 1995/96 or 1996/97. The average costs spent on screening, diagnosing, following and treating this cohort of students were calculated.
Results: The total expenses in the screening centers increased steadily from USD 380,930 in 1995/96 to USD 2,417,824 in 2005/06. Based on the 115,190 students who were followed until they were 19 years old or they left school, the costs of screening and diagnosing one student during adolescence were USD 17.94 and USD 2.08, respectively. Of the 1,311 referrals who attended the specialist hospitals for diagnosis, 264 and 39 had been braced and operated on, respectively. The medical care cost averaged USD 34.61 per student screened. The cost of finding one student with a curvature ≥20° and one treated case were USD 4,475.67 and USD 20,768.29 respectively.
Conclusion: The cost per student screened in the scoliosis screening program in Hong Kong was comparable to that in Rochester, which had a similar protocol and was evaluated in a similar manner.
Significance: This was the largest study that has evaluated school scoliosis screening on students who were followed during their adolescence and accounted for all relevant costs. The estimated costs can help the policy makers for allocating healthcare resources.