Abstract
Home and environment modifications are essential to improve quality of life (QoL) of persons with
disabilities (PWDs). Our research aimed to conduct economic evaluation of home and environment modification service to develop the service guideline and address policy recommendations to improve
the services and to suggest how the resources should be mobilized. Sixty houses of PWDs were recruited
based on designated criteria. Capacity building sessions for architects, engineers, local builders, nurses,
physiotherapists and social workers were also conducted. Functions of PWDs before and after modifications
were recorded using the questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health (ICF). Forty-nine houses were successfully modified. The important findings from
this study were that (1) the home and environment modification service was cost-effective (2) health
personnel and non-health personnel should be involved in the selection process of PWDs who are
suitable to receive the service and (3) PWDs and family members should also be invited to participate in
all construction process. Those with the same impairments may not end up with the same design of the
home and environment modifications because the design depended upon PWDs functions. If the ultimate
goal of services for PWDs is to improve QoL, the home and environment modification is merely one
among other tools to enhance QoL. We recommend that to provide the service, the following procedures
should be considered: stakeholder linkage, resource integration and allocation, decision making based
on functioning data and capacity building. Knowledge management should be conducted to add more
knowledge and understandings.
