Out-of-pocket expenditure for patients with type 2 diabetes in a disease management program in Medellin, Colombia, 2019: a descriptive study

Authors

  • Uriel Palacios Barahona Hospital Universitario Mayor Méderi, Colombia
  • Diego Fernando Rojas-Gualdrón Universidad CES, Colombia
  • Luis Guillermo Toro-Rendón Hospital San Vicente Fundación Rionegro, Colombia
  • Jaime Ordoñez-Molina Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia
  • Nelson Alvis-Guzmán Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia
  • José Fernando Botero-Arango Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.03.302.215

Keywords:

Colombia, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Delivery of Health Care, Health Expenditures, Out-of-Pocket Payments

Abstract

Objective: To measure out-of-pocket expenditures of patients with type 2 diabetes who attended an outpatient disease management program.

Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted among outpatients with type 2 diabetes who attended a disease management program between June 18 and July 18, 2019. We used a self-administered questionnaire on out-of-pocket expenses in the last three months, including calculating expenses dedicated to food for diabetics, laboratory tests, supplies, radiology, medical appointments, and transportation. Out-of-pocket expenses are measured as the sum of the money spent in each category. Data were analyzed using absolute and relative frequencies, means, and standard deviations. The values are shown in US dollars for 2019.

Results: The average expenditure was $60.76 (SD: 154.1, minimum: $2.93; maximum: $1.500.26). Medication accounted for 38.29% of total expenses (mean: $23.11, SD: $47.95), followed by transportation at 21.27% (mean = 12.83, SD = 21.75).

Conclusion: Despite the broad coverage of Colombian healthcare for chronic diseases, this expenditure could indicate problems with adequate access to the healthcare system, causing personal spending to improve the patient's health conditions.

Author Biographies

  • Uriel Palacios Barahona, Hospital Universitario Mayor Méderi, Colombia

    Doctor en Salud Pública, Universidad CES (Colombia). Hospital Universitario Mayor Méderi, Universidad del Rosario (Colombia). uriel.palacios@mederi.com.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3740-0353

  • Diego Fernando Rojas-Gualdrón, Universidad CES, Colombia

    Doctor en Epidemiología y Bioestadística, Universidad CES (Colombia). Universidad CES. dfrojas@ces.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2293-0431

  • Luis Guillermo Toro-Rendón, Hospital San Vicente Fundación Rionegro, Colombia

    Médico Economista de la Salud, Universidad CES (Colombia). Hospital San Vicente Fundación Rionegro (Colombia). luis.toro@sanvicentefundacion@com. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0410-3069

  • Jaime Ordoñez-Molina, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia

    Doctor en Epidemiología, Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia). TrueConsulting. jaime.ordonez@trueconsulting.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4425-2555

  • Nelson Alvis-Guzmán, Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia

    Doctor en Economía de la Salud, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (España). Universidad de Cartagena (Colombia). nalvis@yahoo.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9458-864X

  • José Fernando Botero-Arango, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia

    Médico endocrinólogo, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (Colombia). Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. josebotero1979@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7478-6048

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Published

2025-08-26

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

How to Cite

Out-of-pocket expenditure for patients with type 2 diabetes in a disease management program in Medellin, Colombia, 2019: a descriptive study. (2025). SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 41(3), 816-829. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.03.302.215

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