Τίτλος:
Eliciting the Monetary Value of a Quality-Adjusted Life Year in a Greek Outpatient Department in Times of Economic Austerity
Γλώσσες Τεκμηρίου:
Αγγλικά
Περίληψη:
Background and objective: Contingent valuation is widely used to determine individuals’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a health gain. Our study aimed to elicit an empirical estimate of the monetary value of a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in a Greek outpatient setting in times of economic austerity and assess the impact of patients’ characteristics on their valuations. Methods: We used a questionnaire as a survey tool to determine the maximum WTP for a health gain of a hypothetical therapy and to evaluate patients’ health-related quality of life (EuroQoL-5D-3L) and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. EuroQoL tariffs were used to estimate health utilities. Mean WTP values were computed and ordinary least squares regressions performed on transformed Box-Cox and logarithmic dependent WTP per QALY variables to remedy observed skewness problems. Results: Analyses were performed for 167 patients with utility values less than unity. Mean WTP per QALY reported was similar for both payment vehicles examined: payments made out-of-pocket (€2629) and payments made through new tax imposition (€2407). Regression results showed that higher net monthly family income was associated with higher WTP per QALY for both payment vehicles. Moreover, the presence of a chronic condition and higher level of education were associated with higher out-of-pocket WTP per QALY and WTP per QALY through taxes, respectively. Conclusion: The very low WTP per QALY estimates could be explained by the recent severe economic depression and austerity in Greece. In fact, family income was found to be a significant predictor of WTP per QALY. Since these estimates deviate significantly from the cost-effectiveness thresholds still employed in economic evaluations in this country, research should be undertaken promptly to further examine this important issue using a nationwide representative sample of the general population along with WTP and other methodologies. © 2017, The Author(s).
Συγγραφείς:
Mavrodi, A.
Aletras, V.
Spanou, A.
Niakas, D.
Περιοδικό:
PharmacoEconomics - Open
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
adult; Article; chronic disease; cost effectiveness analysis; donkey; economic evaluation; economic recession; educational status; European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions questionnaire; family income; female; Greece; human; major clinical study; male; medical fee; middle aged; outpatient; outpatient department; priority journal; public hospital; quality adjusted life year; tax
DOI:
10.1007/s41669-017-0033-4
