A note on prevention versus cure

The aim of this study is to test if the general Swedish population prefers saving lives through prevention or acute care. A trade-off question of a choice between saving lives through prevention or acute care was administered in a Swedish population sample. Based on the answers we estimate the median number of lives saved in acute care that is judged equivalent to saving one life through prevention. According to the results 1.2-1.4 lives saved in acute care is judged equivalent to saving one life through prevention. Thus our results indicate that lives saved through prevention and cure are given about the same value by the median respondent. Individuals seem to focus on the size of the health benefits rather than whether the health benefits are achieved through prevention or cure.