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Willingness to pay for allergy-vaccination among Danish patients with respiratory allergy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2010

Karin Dam Petersen ,
Dorte Gyrd-Hansen ,
Allan Linneberg ,
Ronald Dahl ,
Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen ,
Henning Løwenstein  and
Christian Kronborg
Karin Dam Petersen
Affiliation:
University of Southern Denmark
Dorte Gyrd-Hansen
Affiliation:
University of Southern Denmark
Allan Linneberg
Affiliation:
Glostrup University Hospital
Ronald Dahl
Affiliation:
Aarhus University Hospital
Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen
Affiliation:
ALK-Abelló
Henning Løwenstein
Affiliation:
ALK-Abelló
Christian Kronborg
Affiliation:
University of Southern Denmark
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Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to elicit willingness to pay (WTP) for allergen-specific subcutaneous injection immunotherapy (SCIT) in a cohort of respondents suffering from allergic-rhinoconjunctivitis (a-RC)/asthma, and to investigate how patients self-select to SCIT according to need.

Methods: A random sample of the general population was screened for a-RC/asthma and asked if they were willing to consider SCIT. They were asked to state their WTP for SCIT by way of a discrete choice question (DC-q), an open-ended WTP question (o-WTP-q), and questions relating to their sociodemographic background and the severity of their a-RC/asthma. The characteristics of respondents demanding SCIT were compared with the characteristics of respondents who have actually received SCIT to establish possible barriers to demand.

Results: Our results suggest that respondents do well in self-selecting themselves to SCIT on the basis of need according to disease burden measured in terms of a-RC classification, number of contacts with a general practitioner, number of sick days, and potential quality-adjusted life-year loss. Mean WTP for SCIT was estimated at €655 (median, €267) (o-WTP-q) and €903 (95 percent confidence limit, 348–1,459) (DC-q).

Conclusion: Characteristics of respondents, who consider SCIT and are willing to pay for SCIT, suggest that allergy sufferers select themselves appropriately according to need and not according to other characteristics, such as income or education. There is a significant discrepancy between those who hypothetically consider SCIT and those demanding SCIT in real life. This study suggests that there are barriers to entry related to age and education, but not to income.

Keywords

Willingness to pay (WTP)Allergy-specific subcutaneous injection immunotherapy (SCIT)Quality-adjusted life-years (QALY)EQ-5DAllergic-rhinoconjunctivitis
Type
ASSESSMENTS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , January 2010 , pp. 20 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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