Perception of alopecia by patients requiring chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer: a willingness to pay study.

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia may have a substantial impact on the quality of life (QOL) of lung cancer patients, but very few data are available. The aim of this study was to assess the perceived impact of alopecia based on a "willingness to pay" (WTP) approach.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective multicenter WTP study of patients receiving chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The perceived impact of alopecia was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0: no impact, 10: major impact), and from the patients' willingness to pay for chemotherapy that had the same efficacy, dosing schedule and tolerability as the standard treatment but that cut the risk of alopecia from 40% to 5%.

RESULTS

Among the 135 patients enrolled in this study, the mean score on the VAS for the perceived likely impact of alopecia was 4.4 ± 0.3. The mean WTP for a 3-week chemotherapy cycle reducing the risk of alopecia from 40% to 5% was €83.4 ± 10.2 (€median 37.5), representing 2.1% of total income, while 27% of patients were unwilling to pay anything. There was a significant association between WTP and gender (women, p < 0.01), annual incomes (p < 0.01), but not with marital status, level of education or occupations.

CONCLUSION

Alopecia appears to be an important outcome for patients receiving chemotherapy for NSCLC. Women and patients with high annual incomes were more willing to pay.