Willingness to pay for a telemedicine-delivered healthy lifestyle programme

Abstract

Introduction Effective weight-management interventions require frequent interactions with specialised multidisciplinary teams of medical, nutritional and behavioural experts to enact behavioural change. However, barriers that exist in rural areas, such as transportation and a lack of specialised services, can prevent patients from receiving quality care. Methods We recruited patients from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Weight & Wellness Center into a single-arm, non-randomised study of a remotely delivered 16-week evidence-based healthy lifestyle programme. Every 4 weeks, participants completed surveys that included their willingness to pay for services like those experienced in the intervention. A two-item Willingness-to-Pay survey was administered to participants asking about their willingness to trade their face-to-face visits for videoconference visits based on commute and copay. Results Overall, those with a travel duration of 31–45 min had a greater willingness to trade in-person visits for telehealth than any other group. Participants who had a travel duration less than 15 min, 16–30 min and 46–60 min experienced a positive trend in willingness to have telehealth visits until Week 8, where there was a general negative trend in willingness to trade in-person visits for virtual. Participants believed that telemedicine was useful and helpful. Conclusions In rural areas where patients travel 30–45 min a telemedicine-delivered, intensive weight-loss intervention may be a well-received and cost-effective way for both patients and the clinical care team to connect.

Role of telemedicine in the management of obesity: State‐of‐the‐art review

“…A recent study showed that people who had to travel for 31-45 min were more likely to trade inperson visits for telehealth options. 20 Additionally, telemedicine can provide access to healthcare without disrupting one's workday or reducing daily wages. 19 These advantages have been summarized in Figure 3.…”

“…Individuals can save time that would otherwise be spent traveling and waiting for appointments. A recent study showed that people who had to travel for 31–45 min were more likely to trade in‐person visits for telehealth options 20 . Additionally, telemedicine can provide access to healthcare without disrupting one's workday or reducing daily wages 19 .…”