Krammer R, Heinzerling L (2014)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2014
Book Volume: 9
Pages Range: e111237
Journal Issue: 11
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111237
New melanoma therapies, like e.g. ipilimumab, improve survival. However, only a small subset of patients benefits while 60% encounter side effects. Furthermore, these marginal benefits come at a very high price of EUR110'000 per treatment. This study examines attitudes towards melanoma therapy options of physicians, healthy individuals and patients, their willingness to pay and preference of quality versus length of life.Based on findings from a focus group questionnaires were developed and pretested. After obtaining ethical approval and informed consent surveys were conducted in a total of 90 participants (n = 30 for each group). Statistical analyses were conducted using R.Attitudes vastly differed between healthy participants, physicians and melanoma patients. Whereas melanoma patients show a high willingness to endure side effects despite very small survival gains (down to 1 extra week) or even only hope with no survival benefit, healthy controls are more critical, while physicians are the most therapy adverse. Consequently, if given EUR100'000 and the free decision what to spend the money on the willingness to pay for therapy was much higher in the patient group (68%) compared to 28% of healthy controls and only 43% of the physicians, respectively. When lowering the amount of cash that could be received instead of ipilimumab to EUR50'000 or EUR10'000 to test price sensitivity 69% (+1%) and 76% (+8%) of melanoma patients, respectively, preferred ipilimumab over cash. When judging on societal spending even melanoma patients opted for spending on ipilimumab in only 21%.The judgment about the benefits of new treatment options largely differs between groups, physicians being the most critical against therapy. Price elasticity was low.
APA:
Krammer, R., & Heinzerling, L. (2014). Therapy preferences in melanoma treatment - willingness to pay and preference of quality versus length of life of patients, physicians and healthy controls. PLoS ONE, 9(11), e111237. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111237
MLA:
Krammer, Ramona, and Lucie Heinzerling. "Therapy preferences in melanoma treatment - willingness to pay and preference of quality versus length of life of patients, physicians and healthy controls." PLoS ONE 9.11 (2014): e111237.
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