Visualization of perceived expensiveness of diabetes-Fuzzy MDS Approach

Abstract

We take more measures to avoid a situation if it is going to cost us dearly. We take precautions or insure us against risk for these scenarios. The cost of treatment of chronic disease like diabetes increases with disease progression. If patients have right awareness of economic burden of the disease they were more likely to adhere to treatment goals. This will result in lesser number of diabetic patients with multiple complication and hence lesser economic burden of the disease. This study asks patients to rate the similarity between nine selected chronic diseases. The diabetes was found less costly disease on perception than HIV, Arthritis and Cancer. The thirty patients from a private clinic were selected for the study. The statistical method used in the study is Multi Dimensional Scaling (MDS). This reflects that people are aware of the cost associated with treatment of diabetes but they still don't consider it among most costly disease. The better awareness for disease will enable patients taking prevention and treatment at pre-diabetic stage only.