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Table 4 Classification of reasons given for stated-preferences

From: Is the value of a life or life-year saved context specific? Further evidence from a discrete choice experiment

Reason

Count

Examples

More effective/outcomes better

152

"Greater number of lives saved" (ID:75).

More cost-effective

148

"Same number of lives expected to be saved at half the cost" (ID: 86).

  

"Low cost per expected benefits mitigates low evidence" (ID: 5).

  

"Better value for money" (ID: 17).

  

"Greater impact for dollars invested" (ID: 21).

  

"It makes sense to save more lives for the same cost" (ID: 73).

Prevention better than cure/treatment

108

"Prevention is better than cure" (ID: 24).

  

"Prevention is better than cure especially in young" (ID: 64).

  

"Prevention is better than cure – is initially maybe more costly but in the long term will be effective and economical because less people will need treatment" (ID: 70).

  

"Better to stop something happening than to clean up the mess later" (ID: 72).

  

"May be limited evidence, but prevention is better than treatment" (ID: 76).

High quality evidence

145

"Strong evidence – therefore more likely to succeed" (ID: 16).

  

"Strong evidence vs limited evidence" (ID: 89).

  

"Strong evidence that it will work" (ID: 90)

Lifestyle better than medical

45

"Lifestyle may give a better outcome over time" (ID: 1).

  

"I always prefer lifestyle to medical. It is more effective and cheaper in the long term" (ID: 24)

  

"Most illnesses are caused by lifestyle factors. Only lifestyle changes can reverse them. Medicine causes many problems we see today or at least contributes" (ID: 52).

Medical program better than lifestyle

24

"A medical program seems more likely to be followed through because the onus is less on the patient" (ID: 67)

  

"I would favour a lifestyle program in preference to medical, if results the same" (ID: 101).

  

"Medical is essential – lifestyle is self inflicted" (ID: 29).

Young children a priority

140

"Young children grow into young adults and problems are easier to fix in young children" (ID: 60)

  

"Young children deserve the right to have the best treatment available" (ID: 34).

  

"Elderly have had their life and children have it all in front of them – they are the Australia of tomorrow" (ID: 29)

  

"We should spend more on keeping young people healthy rather than keeping elderly people alive" (ID: 71).

  

"Helping children is very important especially if it's fully funded so children aren't prevented from participation because of socio-economic factors" (ID: 82).

Young adults a priority

52

"Young adults grow into elderly adults so it would be better to treat young adults who would save the govt money and be more useful in the workforce till they age" (ID: 60).

  

"We have to invest in the young adults as they are our future, even at a higher cost. The elderly have lived some of their lives already" (ID: 96).

  

"Prefer young adults be treated before elderly so their lives may be extended for the community benefit" (ID: 19)

Working age adults a priority

33

"Working adults may be able to stay in work force for a longer period" (ID: 74).

  

"Working age adults likely to be responsible for young children" (ID: 87).

  

"Working age adults have a lot of responsibility – often the sole bread winners; supporting them is better for our society" (ID: 2).

  

"The working age people are required to provide for others and need to be healthy" (ID: 40).

  

"Working adults are tax payers" (ID: 47).

Elderly a priority

22

"The elderly need help now. By the time the working age adults develop their problem, a cure may have been found" (ID: 67).

  

"Most elderly worked and paid taxes most of their working lives" (ID: 101).

  

"Elderly usually have longstanding health problems anyway, less inclined to change lifestyle" (ID: 13).

  

"I know older people suffer more than they should. GP's don't care about chronic pain. Help elderly people, who are usually on very limited incomes, more" (ID: 4).

  

"To assist the elderly and hopefully provide an improved quality of life" (ID: 16).

Not at fault should be given priority

53

"Prefer to help when problem is not caused by patient's behaviour" (ID: 35).

  

"If the problem is partly caused by patients' behaviour, then they should pay for the program" (ID: 48)

  

"Caused by their behaviour makes something very low priority" (ID: 84).

Higher patient contribution

54

"If people pay nothing they will not change the ways that cause their problem. Ownership is essential" (ID: 52)

  

"People must be responsible for some help costs – Medicare is out of control!" (ID: 10).

  

"If the patient is partly responsible they should partly pay for the treatment" (ID: 40).

  

"People don't appreciate or necessarily stick to the things they get for free" (ID: 18).

Lower or no cost to patient/participant

35

"No cost to participants. To expect young adult to pay for a lifestyle program may prohibit some from being able to participate" (ID: 86).

  

"Available to all as it's free" (ID: 18).

  

"Government should be prepared to arrange and fund public health initiatives" (ID: 103).

Lower cost to government/tax payers

8

"Lower cost to government" (ID: 51).

  

"No cost to tax payers" (ID: 49).

Lower cost/cheaper

41

"Cheapest to implement" (ID: 96).