title: Asymmetric information and user orientation in general practice: Exploring the agency relationship in a best-worst scaling study.
abstract: This study uses a best-worst scaling experiment to test whether general practitioners (GPs) act as perfect agents for the patients in the consultation; and if not, whether this is due to asymmetric information and/or other motivations than user orientation. Survey data were collected from 775 GPs and 1379 Danish citizens eliciting preferences for a consultation. Sequential models allowing for within-person preference heterogeneity and heteroskedasticity between best and worst choices were estimated. We show that GPs do not always act as perfect agents and that this non-alignment stems from GPs being both unable and unwilling to do so. Unable since GPs have imperfect information about patients' preferences, and unwilling since they are also motivated by other factors than user orientation. Our findings highlight the need for multi-pronged strategies targeting different motivational factors to ensure that GPs act in correspondence with patients' preferences in areas where alignment is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Health Economics Research (COHERE), Department of Business and Economics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; Research Unit for General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 9A, 1, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. Electronic address: lib@sam.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Line Bjørnskov
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Transport Studies & Choice Modelling Centre, University of Leeds, Lifton Villas, 1-3 Lifton Place, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: Centre of Health Economics Research (COHERE), Department of Business and Economics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kjær
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D005194:Family Practice; D058006:General Practice; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D057240:Patient Preference; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: Agency theory; Asymmetric information; Best–worst scaling case 3; General practice; User orientation