Effectiveness of health microinsurance scheme in private primary care in Malaysia
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN10261528 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10261528 |
| Protocol serial number | NMRR 29311 |
| Sponsor | Chulalongkorn University |
| Funder | Chulalongkorn University |
- Submission date
- 22/02/2016
- Registration date
- 25/02/2016
- Last edited
- 09/03/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Many people living in Malaysia are unable to access adequate healthcare. It is a growing problem, especially for families on a low income with children or a member suffering from a long-term (chronic) disease, such as diabetes or asthma. Despite healthcare services being available almost free of charge from the government, many citizens are still unable to be seen because of long waiting times and lack of specialized and personalized care. As a result of this, private healthcare clinics in which a patient needs to pay for healthcare (out-of-pocket financing, OOP) are becoming more common. This can be very difficult for those on a low income, as they may not be able to afford to get treatment as often as they need if they are suffering from a chronic disease. Microinsurance schemes are a type of financial protection for people on a low income, in which health insurance to low-income households in developing countries. The aim of this study is to find out whether a Health Microinsurance Scheme (HMI) at a private healthcare clinic is an effective way to encourage Malaysians to seek healthcare more often as needed.
Who can participate?
Members of households in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) that pay for their own medical care and have been seen in a participating private healthcare clinic within the last two years.
What does the study involve?
Fifty seven households who usually attend each of the two participating private healthcare clinics are randomly selected. Those who attend one clinic are given full access to the Health Microinsurance Scheme (HMI) for free for six months. This allows them to visit the healthcare clinic and use their services as much as they like within the six months. Those who attend the other clinic continue to seek treatment in the normal way, paying for the healthcare services they used (out-of-pocket). At the start of the study and then again after six months, the head of each household completes a number of questionnaires in order to assess how much they have used healthcare services in the last six months.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration.
Where is the study run from?
1. Klinik Suria (Malaysia)
2. Klinik Mediprima (Malaysia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
December 2015 to December 2016
Who is funding the study?
Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Murallitharan Munisamy
Murallitharan.M@student.chula.ac.th
Contact information
Scientific
College of Public Health Sciences Institute
Building 3 (10th – 11th floor)
Chulalongkorn Soi 62
Phyathai Road
Bangkok
10330
Thailand
| Phone | +66 2 218 8193 |
|---|---|
| Murallitharan.M@student.chula.ac.th |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multi-centre quasi-experimental two arm pre-post intervention trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised parallel trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Effectiveness of a health microinsurance scheme in improving health equity and clinical outcomes for private primary care in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Study objectives | A Health Microinsurance Scheme (HMI) is more effective compared to Out-of-Pocket (OOP) payments in improving health equity and clinical outcomes for private primary care clinics in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Malaysian Research Ethics Committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia, 04/03/2016, ref: NMRR-16-172-29311(IIR) |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Financing primary healthcare |
| Intervention | From each clinic, the list of patients who pay Out-Of-Pocket for consultation/treatment (current practice in Private Primary Care clinics in Malaysia) are compiled by family. These are patients who are already regular clients of these clinics and no outside populations are being recruited. Fifty seven households are then randomly selected from each clinic. Once the heads of the households provide informed consent, all participants answer a detailed questionnaire to capture their health-seeking behaviour, monthly health expenditure and through patient records at the clinic, capture changes in clinical outcomes for those with chronic disease. Participants attending one clinic take part in the Health Microinsurance Scheme (HMI) and those attending the other take part in a control arm. Health Microinsurance Scheme (HMI) - Participants are provided with a fully-paid Health Microinsurance Scheme for 6 months. This scheme covers all their treatment and consultation costs, including drugs at the experimental clinic site. Participants are allowed to visit and receive all treatment and services at the clinic as and when they require it. Control - Patients visiting the control clinic are also free to visit and receive all treatment and services at the clinic as and when they require it, but will pay for it as per usual prices without any change. After six months, the questionnaire completed at baseline is repeated for all participants. |
| Intervention type | Mixed |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Health-seeking behaviour is measured as the delay in seeking care in days at baseline and 6 months. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Monthly household health expenditure is measured using the self-estimated in Ringgit Malaysia (RM) at baseline and 6 months |
| Completion date | 31/12/2016 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 342 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Households were located in the study area 2. Method of payment to clinic is by out-of-pocket 3. Members of the household’s regular choice of primary care provider 4. Patient has been seen in the clinic within the past two years provided with a fully-paid Health Microinsurance Scheme for 6 months. This scheme covers all their treatment and consultation costs, including drugs at the experimental clinic site. Participants are allowed to visit and receive all treatment and services at the clinic as and when they require it. |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Households with members who died in the year 2014 2. Households with members who were away from this place of residence for work/transferred for more than 1 month in 2014 3. Households with members who had regular follow-up in public facilities for chronic disease 4. Households with members who have switched methods of payment in the last year (e.g. newly bought insurance or retired and lost health benefits so paying OOP) 5. Patients who refuse consent |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/04/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/06/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Malaysia
Study participating centres
Kuala Lumpur
51200
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
51200
Malaysia
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
09/03/2016: Ethics approval information added.
