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Dollars and Discomfort: What Will People Be Willing to Give for Better Blood Pressure Assessment?
Anthony J Viera1, Laura Tuttle1, Jennifer Zeng1
1School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Insights
Most adults are willing to endure mild discomfort and pay $25 for accurate hypertension diagnosis using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). This indicates patient acceptance of ABPM for reliable blood pressure assessment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Preventive Medicine
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for hypertension diagnosis.
- ABPM may cause inconvenience and adverse effects like pain and bruising due to repeated cuff inflations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess adult willingness to undergo physical discomfort for accurate blood pressure testing.
- To determine the acceptable cost for the most accurate high blood pressure evaluation.
Main Methods:
- A national survey was conducted among adults aged 30 and older.
- Participants were asked about their willingness to tolerate discomfort and pay for accurate BP assessment.
Main Results:
- 95% of 1010 respondents were willing to experience at least mild physical discomfort.
- The median willingness to pay for the test was $25.
Conclusions:
- Individuals are generally willing to accept minor discomfort for precise blood pressure evaluation.
- Patients show a willingness to pay a modest amount for accurate hypertension diagnosis via ABPM.
Abstract:
Recently, the US Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation to utilize 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension after screening. However, ABPM can be inconvenient and has some adverse effects such as pain and bruising from the repeated cuff inflations. In this national survey, we asked adults 30 years and older how much physical discomfort they would be willing to undergo to have the most accurate test available for evaluating possible high BP. We also asked how much they would be willing to pay to have the test. Among 1010 respondents, 95% of participants indicated willingness to undergo at least mild physical discomfort. The median amount people would be willing to pay was $25. These findings suggest that people are willing to undergo a bit of discomfort, and even pay a small amount, for the benefit of accurate BP assessment.
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