Abstract
The purposes of this discrete choice experiment are as follows: (1) to investigate the preferences of gastric cancer survivors for follow-up care, and (2) to quantify the importance of follow-up care-related characteristics that may affect the gastric cancer survivors' choices of their follow-up, so as to provide references for the development of the follow-up strategy of gastric cancer survivors. Discrete choice experimental design principle was applied to develop the survey instrument. All questionnaires were filled out by the respondents and collected on site. A mixed logit model was used to estimate gastric cancer survivors' preferences. Willingness to pay estimates and simulations of follow-up uptake rates were calculated. All six attributes are significantly important for the follow-up care of gastric cancer survivors (p < 0.05). Achieving very thorough follow-up contents was the most valued attribute level (coefficient = 1.995). Specialist doctors are the most preferred providers followed by specialist nurses, and gastric cancer survivors were willing to pay more for these attribute levels. Changes in attribute levels affected uptake rate of follow-up. When the multiple attribute levels were changed at the same time, a very thorough follow-up content was provided by the same specialist doctor (specialist nurse), and the probability of receiving follow-up increases by 95.82% (94.90%). The characteristics of follow-up care in our study reflect the health management services' expectations of gastric cancer survivors. A dedicated specialist nurse involved in follow-up care should be developed to contribute to solve the complex and multifaceted personal needs of gastric cancer survivors.
Highlights
Gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor in the world[1,2]
Specialist doctors are the most preferred providers, followed by specialist nurses and gastric cancer survivors were willing to pay more for these attribute levels
When the multiple attribute levels were changed at the same time, a very thorough follow-up contents provided by the same specialist doctor, the probability of receiving follow-up increases by 95.82% (94.90%)
Summary
With the development of radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy, the survival rate of patients with gastric cancer has been significantly improved[3]. In Asian countries, the survival rate of gastric cancer is higher, up to 45.4% [4]. Patients with cancer who completed the treatment and are still alive after a period of time are called cancer survivors[5,6].The overall quality of life is poor for gastric cancer survivors[7] who fear the cancer will return and suffer from complications such as gastrointestinal discomfort, osteoporosis and anemia[8,9]. Regular follow-up of gastric cancer survivors is very necessary
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