A study of the payment of nutrition counseling services

Kim, Wha Young; Cho, Mi Sook; Lee, Young Hee; Kim, Young Hae; Lee, Hyun Sook

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the cost of nutrition counselling service at present and to suggest the guideline for the payment. Data were collected using questionnaires and the cost of counseling was expected by analyzing the time consumed and needed for nutntion counseling. The results were as follows: In the case of diabetes, mean time of nutrition vounseling was 69.7+/-5.3min/case, but the fietitian asked 82.7+/-4.6min/case for counseling and in the cases of renal diseases, mean time of counseling was 64.3+/-4.1min/case and the time asked was 84.8+/-4.5min/case (P<001) It was found that time was not enough to educate or counsel the clients. The cost of counseling was not counted in 20.3% of the respondants and the mean nutrition counseling fee was 5,460.6+/-1,901.1won/case in out-patient and 6,408.9+/-3,547.7won/case in in-patient. The group education fee was 6,168+/-,813won/case. The estimations of the cost for nutrition counseling services using labor cost were 18,463.5won in case of diabetes and 18,463.5won/case for patients of renal disease and in group education 8,111.5won and 7,404.3won respectively.