BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate patient preferences of setting for outpatient surgery--office-based, hospital-based, or inpatient care environment--and the factors relevant to their decision. METHODS: Preferences were elicited from a sample of the general population (n=1,134) with a discrete choice model, an efficient technique for estimating utility. Participants chose their preferred mode among different outpatient scenarios for hypothetical arthroscopic surgery. RESULTS: The subjects were open to alternative options of care delivery and based their decisions on particular attributes, "specialization," "staff continuity," and "waiting time" having the largest effect on choices. A slight preference for hospital-based outpatient surgery was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that patients' choice of providers is open and based on specific attributes of treatment delivery and institution and not the setting per se.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate patient preferences of setting for outpatient surgery--office-based, hospital-based, or inpatient care environment--and the factors relevant to their decision. METHODS: Preferences were elicited from a sample of the general population (n=1,134) with a discrete choice model, an efficient technique for estimating utility. Participants chose their preferred mode among different outpatient scenarios for hypothetical arthroscopic surgery. RESULTS: The subjects were open to alternative options of care delivery and based their decisions on particular attributes, "specialization," "staff continuity," and "waiting time" having the largest effect on choices. A slight preference for hospital-based outpatient surgery was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that patients' choice of providers is open and based on specific attributes of treatment delivery and institution and not the setting per se.
Authors: M Ryan; D A Scott; C Reeves; A Bate; E R van Teijlingen; E M Russell; M Napper; C M Robb Journal: Health Technol Assess Date: 2001 Impact factor: 4.014