Willingness to pay for mass screening for prostate cancer: a contingent valuation survey.
We recently reported on the willingness to pay (WTP) for prostate cancer screening with prostate specific antigen (PSA) using the contingent valuation method (CVM). This study, a continuation of the work outlined in the previous report, comprises a more precise and detailed survey. In an Internet questionnaire survey, 400 men aged 50-59 in Japan were randomly split into two groups: the ill-informed group (n = 207), which was provided with information about the detection rate, and the well-informed group (n = 193), which was given additional information about false positive/negative results, latent cancer, and the yet-to-be-demonstrated mortality-reducing effect of the test. The mean WTP was yen1670 ($15.2). Giving sufficient information would not decrease WTP for PSA screening. Men place a high value on 'peace of mind' through the ascertaining of no sign of cancer at the present rather than on the future-oriented life-saving effects that may be gained through such screening.
Yasunaga
Hideo
H
Department of Health Management and Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. yasunagah-jyo@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
D019538:Health Care Surveys; D005102:Health Expenditures; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen