Eliciting Public Preference for Health-Care Resource Allocation in South Korea

Jan 1, 2012, 00:00
10.1016/j.jval.2011.11.014
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(11)03551-0/fulltext
Title : Eliciting Public Preference for Health-Care Resource Allocation in South Korea
Citation : https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/action/showCitFormats?pii=S1098-3015(11)03551-0&doi=10.1016/j.jval.2011.11.014
First page : S91
Section Title : Health Policy Analysis
Open access? : No
Section Order : 22

Objectives

To identify the principles the public considers important and the trade-offs between different values in health-care resource allocation practices.

Methods

This study approached the issue in both qualitative and quantitative ways. In a qualitative study, two focus groups discussed the issues of resource allocation in health care. To facilitate the discussion, a simple ranking task and a series of pairwise choice practices were implemented. A discrete choice experiment survey questionnaire was also administered to a sample of the general population. Attributes and levels were determined through literature reviews and the results from the focus group interview. We used a random-effect probit model to assess the effects of each attribute.

Results

Through the focus group interviews, we found strong public support for the principle of equal opportunity. The participants thought that the severity of disease was the most important criterion when setting priorities. The majority supported the idea that the most disadvantaged should have the highest priority even when their health gains are less than those of others. The discrete choice experiment results showed that the severity of disease, health gains, and patients' socioeconomic status significantly influence their choices, with each parameter having an expected sign.

Conclusion

The results showed that Koreans support not only health maximization but also equal opportunity, fair resource allocation, and equality.

Categories :
  • Health Policy & Regulatory
  • Methodological & Statistical Research
  • Preference Methods
  • Public Spending & National Health Expenditures
  • Study Approaches
  • Surveys & Expert Panels
Tags :
  • discrete choice experiments
  • focus group interviews
  • priority setting
  • social value
Regions :
  • Asia Pacific (including Oceania)
ViH Article Tags :