Willingness of patients with ankylosing spondylitis to pay for inpatient treatment is influenced by the treatment environment and expectations of improvement.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for treatment in a spa resort of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to assess if the experience of a spa influences the WTP.

Methods

120 patients participating in a randomised trial comparing 3 weeks' treatment in a spa resort in Austria or in the Netherlands with a control group completed a WTP questionnaire before and after spa treatment. Patients indicated on a payment card the maximal co-payment they wanted to contribute for three scenarios that included (a) two levels of improvement in pain and stiffness and (b) two treatment environments: a rehabilitation hospital and a spa resort.

Results

At baseline, patients wanted to contribute more for the same improvement after treatment in a spa resort compared w

SUBMITTER: Boonen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1755276 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature