Survey on Willingness to Pay for Life-Saving Treatment, Functional Recovery, and Cosmesis in a Neuroscience Outpatient Clinic Setting in Singapore

Abstract

BackgroundNeurologic disorders impose a heavy burden on healthcare in Singapore. To date, no data on the willingness to pay (WTP) for neurologic treatments has been reported in the local population. ObjectivesWe aimed to quantify the value of various health domains to neuroscience patients and their caregivers by comparing their WTP for different types of treatments. MethodsA questionnaire using a mixed open-ended and closed-ended contingent valuation method was developed to elicit WTP and self-administered by 112 visitors to a neuroscience outpatient clinic. The WTP for treatments in 3 health domains (advanced restoration of function, life extension, and cosmesis) was evaluated and compared. Subgroup regression analysis was performed to investigate the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors. ResultsTreatment that improved cosmesis had the highest median WTP of Singapore dollar (SGD) 35 000, followed by treatment that provided 1 year of life extension (SGD 20 000) and 1 year of advanced restored function (SGD 10 000; P < .001). Respondents with a university education were willing to pay as much as 2 to 3 times of those without across all health domains. ConclusionThis is the first study to provide data on how different health domains are valued by neuroscience patients and caregivers in our population. Respondents valued treatment that restored or improved their physical appearances the most. These findings could contribute to future policies on the improvement of neuroscience care.