Korean J Anesthesiol.  2009 Aug;57(2):151-154. 10.4097/kjae.2009.57.2.151.

How much are patients willing to pay for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting?

• Chung S
• Kim KO
• Lee JH
• Lee K

• KMID: 2238081
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2009.57.2.151

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains a common complication of anesthesia. We tried to assess the amount patients were willing to pay for a hypothetical antiemetic that would completely prevent PONV. METHODS: Trained residents interviewed 86 patients, who were scheduled to undergo general anesthesia, and questionnaires were completed. RESULTS: Patients were willing to pay a median of 30,000 won for an antiemetic that would completely prevent PONV. The amounts patients were willing to pay correlated with age, previous history of PONV, and patient income. CONCLUSIONS: Patients assigned a value for avoidance of PONV. It is suggested that more efforts to prevent PONV would be helpful for the increase in patient satisfaction.

Keyword

Antiemetic; Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV); Willingness-to-pay

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General
Humans
Patient Satisfaction
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting