Estimating the Willingness-to-pay for Telehealth Services of Chronic Disease in Rural Area

J Health Info Stat > Volume 32(1); 2007 > Article

J Health Info Stat 2007;32(1):17-32.

농어촌지역 만성질환 원격의료서비스에 대한 지불의사금액 추정

김수진 , 문옥륜 , 안무업 , 류시원

Estimating the Willingness-to-pay for Telehealth Services of Chronic Disease in Rural Area

Soo Jin Kim , Ok Ryun Moon , Moo Eup Ahn , See Won Ryu

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
The purpose of this study is to estimate willingness-to-pay (WTP) of rural telehealth service for chronic diseases by the contingent valuation method (CVM).
Methods:
A survey was conducted for 451 peoples with chronic diseases (hypertension & diabetes) who are using trial telehealth services at 20 community health practitioner posts in Gangwon province. Before estimating WTP for telehealth service, reliability was tested by following of NOAA recommendations. WTP was measured and estimated by using a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method and survival analysis.
Results:
We estimated the average WTP for one-time telehealth service as 4,062won, which is larger than normal service charge in health post, in case with covariate by survival analysis.
Conclusions:
The results of this study means that telehealth services for peoples of chronic disease in the underserved rural area would be effective and valuable in Korea. To be accepted and implemented successfully, there must be more detailed consideration or test about social psychological and cultural aspects, medical safety, disbursement policy, and separation of duty.

Key words: Rural telehealth service, Willingness-to-pay, WTP, Chronic disease management, Contingent valuation method