ECONOMIC ANALYSIS of ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT in a LOWER MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRY

Objectives:
Objectives: To assess the factors affecting patient’s perception, willingness to pay (WTP) for orthodontic treatment, and patient’s monetary evaluation of orthodontic treatment cost in Nepal.
Methods: Methods: The sample comprised of 623 subjects including 311 orthodontic group and 312 non-orthodontic control group. The structured questionnaire comprised of sections on subjects’ demographic factors, perception towards orthodontic treatment, and WTP for orthodontic services. Quantitative data were recorded and analyzed for descriptive and analytical measurements. The relationships between the respondents' educational level, job type, family income, orthodontic health status based on Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and perception towards orthodontic treatment were compared using multiple regressions.
Results: Results: There was a difference in perception towards orthodontic treatment between orthodontic patients and non-orthodontic patients. Respondents' educational level, job type, orthodontic status affected the choice of orthodontic appliance and WTP for orthodontic treatment.
Conclusions: Conclusions: Conventional metal brackets are generally the mostly chosen brackets by the Nepalese samples. Economic analyses are useful tool for health policy and planning in determining the orthodontic treatment costs in health service sectors.