title: To explore preferences and willingness to pay for attributes regarding stoma appliances amongst patients in the UK, France and Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore patient preferences regarding stoma appliances in the UK, France and Germany and to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for attributes of stoma appliances.
  
  
  METHODS
  A discrete choice (DCE) survey was developed based on published literature, attributes of current available appliances and qualitative interviews with patients from the UK (N = 3), France (N = 2) and Germany (N = 2). Members from a patient panel in the UK, France and Germany were asked to participate in the DCE survey and to fill out two quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the conditional logit model whereby the coefficients obtained from the model provided an estimate of the (log) odds ratios (ORs) of preference for attributes. WTP was estimated for each level of a given identified attribute.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven key attributes were identified for the DCE survey: comfort and elastic flexibility, skin problems, early detection of leakage, leakage, filter performance, service/help after hospital discharge and out-of-pocket cost. A total of 415 participants (166 patients in UK, 99 in France, and 150 in Germany) completed the questionnaires. All attributes were significant predictors of choice. The two most important drivers of preference were the attributes comfort and elastic flexibility and skin problems which resulted in high WTP values. Appliances which were able to detect episodes of leakage were also of high importance to participants' appliances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show the importance of different attributes of stoma appliances for patients. Improving comfort and elastic flexibility, and risk of skin problems were the most important aspects of appliances. The WTP values indicate the value people place on improvement in each attribute of appliances.
authors: ICON plc , Oxford , UK.
authors: Beenish
authors: B
authors: Nafees
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Lloyd
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Elkin
authors: Terri
authors: T
authors: Porret
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005858:Germany; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010030:Ostomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D054047:Surgical Stomas / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Discrete choice experiment; Preference; Stoma care