The willingness to pay for positron emission tomography (PET): evaluation of suspected lung cancer using contingent valuation.
BACKGROUND
In this study, contingent valuation is used to estimate the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging by patients with suspected benign or malignant lung disease.


METHODS
Patients (n = 87) undergoing thoracic computed tomography were surveyed for their WTP for PET for the evaluation of lung disease in lieu of further testing. Patients were provided background PET information and a two-page self-administered questionnaire. The survey queried basic demographic information, perceived risk of malignancy, and perceived life expectancy given a diagnosis of malignancy.


RESULTS
Patients with increased perception of risk were willing to pay more than those with lower perceived risk. Patients who were self-payers for their health insurance indicated a lower WTP than those who did not pay any out-of-pocket insurance premiums.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals are willing to pay additional out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic imaging to reduce their perception of risk and improve their quality of life.
Papatheofanis
F J
FJ
Department of Radiology, UCSD School of Medicine 92103-8758, USA. fpapath@ucsd.edu
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008017:Life Expectancy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000191:economics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000191:economics*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics; D026712:Value of Life