Which of the following is a direct cost of disease management?

The cost of prescriptions and treatments represents a direct cost of disease management because it involves tangible financial expenses that individuals incur when managing their health. These costs include payments for medications, necessary medical interventions, therapies, and any related healthcare services required to treat or maintain a condition. Such direct costs are quantifiable and often reflected in out-of-pocket expenses, insurance claims, or healthcare expenditure statistics.

In contrast, emotional strain from illness, loss of independence and self-esteem, and loss of relationships are considered indirect costs. While they significantly impact an individual's quality of life and overall well-being, they are not straightforward financial expenditures. Indirect costs encompass the broader effects of disease on a person's emotional and social health, which may lead to long-term consequences but do not directly correlate with immediate financial transactions or expenses related to disease management. Thus, when determining direct costs, the focus is primarily on explicit financial obligations like those related to prescriptions and treatments.