Public provision of four-wheeled walkers: contingent valuation study of economic benefit.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the economic value of publicly provided four-wheeled walkers as judged by recipients in Queensland, Australia.


METHODS
Contingent valuation study using willingness-to-pay approach. A sample of 49 Australian older adults who received a publicly funded four-wheeled walker in the past 3 months completed the survey via telephone. A discrete choice bidding response format with a randomly selected starting bid was employed to glean valuations.


RESULTS
This approach yielded only one non-response, and one zero dollar response. The mean (standard deviation) valuation provided was $ A 290 ($ A 167), which was $ A 84 in excess of the price paid by the public provider agency to purchase the equipment. Starting bid was significantly associated with values provided.


CONCLUSIONS
The current public provision program of four-wheeled walkers is likely to generate net societal benefit. These findings coupled with arguments based on equity build a moderate case for the continuation of this program.
Haines
Terry
T
The University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. terrence_haines@health.qld.gov.au
Brown
Cassandra
C
Morrison
Jan
J
D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011793:Queensland; D014853:Walkers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data