Reviewing emergency care systems 2: measuring patient preferences using a discrete choice experiment

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient Preference Studies
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Modernizing out-of-hours emergency care services is a key policy focus.
• Understanding patient preferences is crucial for effective service redesign.
• Previous research and stakeholder input identified key attributes for service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify patient preferences for attributes of out-of-hours emergency care in Nottingham.
• To determine the relative importance of different service attributes to patients.
• To inform the development of a local service framework for emergency care.

Main Methods:

• A discrete choice experiment was employed to assess patient preferences.
• A self-complete questionnaire was administered to diverse patient groups.
• Regression analysis was used to estimate attribute importance.

Main Results:

• Consultation with a doctor was the most significant attribute, with patients willing to wait longer for it.
• Consultation quality, being informed about wait times, and nurse consultation were also important.
• Younger patients preferred telephone access, while location and in-person contact were less critical than other factors.

Conclusions:

• Patient preferences must be central to local reforms of out-of-hours emergency care.
• The discrete choice experiment methodology proved effective and acceptable.
• Study findings directly influenced the creation of a local emergency care service framework.