Abstract
The cost-effectiveness of population-based screening for alcohol use disorder in Thailand
Varit Chantarastapornchit*, Pattara Leelahavarong* and Yot Teerawattananon*
*Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), Ministry of Public Health
Alcohol consumption is one of the major disease burdens in Thailand, particularly in Thai male. It is
believed that screening, with a brief intervention, can reduce the prevalence of alcohol abuse. The study
aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) or Alcohol,
Smorking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) in detecting alcohol abuse disorder in
the Thai population, followed by a brief intervention, via a decision tree model. The effectiveness of the
program was expressed in terms of the number of life-years gained from the reduction of alcohol consumption.
The results show that alcohol screening, followed by a brief intervention, saved cost while
contributing to the gain of population’s life years. Screening in a younger population was more costeffective
than in an older population.
