Wang Mei, Zuo Yajing, Lin Xianhua, Ling Yunlan, Lin Xiaofeng, Li Mingge, Lamoureux Ecosse, Zheng Yingfeng
Department of Ophthalmology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
PLoS One. 2015 Nov 17;10(11):e0142858. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142858. eCollection 2015.
To study willingness to pay for cataract surgery and surgical service provided by a senior cataract surgeon in urban Southern China.
This study was a cross-sectional willingness-to-pay (WTP) interview using bidding formats. Two-hundred eleven persons with presenting visual impairment in either eye due to cataract were enrolled at a tertiary eye hospital. Participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination and a WTP interview for both surgery and service provided by a senior surgeon. Demographic information, socioeconomic status and clinical data were recorded.
Among 211 (98% response rate) persons completing the interview, 53.6% were women and 80.6% were retired. About 72.2% had a monthly income lower than 1000 renminbi (US $161). A total of 189 (89.6%) were willing to pay for cataract and the median amount of WTP was 6000 renminbi (US$968). And 102 (50.7%) were willing to pay additional fees for surgery performed by a senior surgeon, and the median amount of WTP was 500 renminbi (US$81). In regression models adjusting for age and gender, persons with preexisting eye diseases other than cataract, were more likely to pay for cataract surgery and service provided by a senior surgeon (P = 0.04 for both).
In urban China, cataract patients, especially those with preexisting eye conditions, are willing to pay additional fees for a senior surgeon. Moving to a system where the price of cataract surgery is proportional to the consultant' skill and expertise is possible and may have a potential impact on waiting list and quality of eye care. Further studies are needed to examine the impact of such pricing system on attitudes and choices of cataract patients.
研究中国南方城市白内障患者为白内障手术及资深白内障外科医生提供的手术服务支付费用的意愿。
本研究采用投标形式进行横断面支付意愿（WTP）访谈。在一家三级眼科医院招募了211名因白内障导致单眼或双眼视力受损的患者。参与者接受了全面的眼部检查，并就资深外科医生提供的手术和服务进行了支付意愿访谈。记录了人口统计学信息、社会经济状况和临床数据。
在完成访谈的211人（回复率98%）中，53.6%为女性，80.6%已退休。约72.2%的人月收入低于1000元人民币（161美元）。共有189人（89.6%）愿意为白内障手术付费，支付意愿的中位数为6000元人民币（968美元）。102人（50.7%）愿意为资深外科医生进行的手术支付额外费用，支付意愿的中位数为500元人民币（81美元）。在调整年龄和性别的回归模型中，除白内障外患有其他眼部疾病的人更有可能为资深外科医生提供的白内障手术和服务付费（两者P值均为0.04）。
在中国城市，白内障患者，尤其是那些已有眼部疾病的患者，愿意为资深外科医生支付额外费用。转向一种白内障手术价格与医生技能和专业知识成正比的体系是可行的，并且可能对等候名单和眼科护理质量产生潜在影响。需要进一步研究来考察这种定价体系对白内障患者态度和选择的影响。
