Evaluation
of a community pharmacy disease management program for type 2
diabetes, ‘SugarCare’, was conducted. Compared with the standard
care offered by pharmacists, this enhanced program offered patients
closer monitoring of blood glucose levels, counselling about lifestyle,
etc. The SugarCare study was funded by a grant but if the care
is to continue some other method of financing must be found.
Objectives: This study aimed to measure consumer preference for
one of the two types of care offered in the SugarCare study, the
control/standard and the intervention/enhanced service; the strength
of that preference; and participants’ willingness to pay (WTP)
for their preferred care.
Methods: SugarCare was a parallel groups, control versus intervention,
repeated measures design conducted in three areas of NSW, Australia.
Patients in the Intervention group (enhanced care) had one initial
visit to the pharmacy with six follow up visits over approximately
9 months. At these visits blood glucose was downloaded and patient
care issues addressed. At the end of the service, a survey instrument
was mailed to the intervention and control participants who were
asked to read it and then expect a telephone call within 2 weeks
of receipt. Responses were requested over the phone and the survey
instrument completed by the researcher. WTP data were collected
using a modified payment card method.
Results: Overall, 44/75 (59%; 47%-70% 95%CI) respondents expressed
a preference for Scenario B (the enhanced care) while 31/75 (41%;
31%-52% 95%CI) preferred Scenario A (standard care) however, the
difference was not statistically significant. The median maximum
WTP was AUD10 for the enhanced care and AUD3.50 for the standard
care (p<0.03).
Conclusions: While the WTP values expressed were significantly
higher for the enhanced care they did not match with the cost
providing that diabetes care. Discrete choice analysis has the
potential to overcome some of the difficulties encountered with
the contingent valuation technique used here. Further research
is required before WTP values such as these could be used with
confidence to determine funding policy.
