Willingness-to-Pay Stated Preferences for Telemedicine Versus In-Person Visits in Patients with a History of Psoriasis or Melanoma

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate willingness-to-pay stated preferences for telemedicine versus in-person clinic visits in patients with a history of psoriasis or melanoma. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 92 (n = 92) adult participants with a history of psoriasis or melanoma recruited primarily from hospital-based dermatology practices. Data were collected on patient demographics and willingness-to-pay responses. In a combined analysis for patients with melanoma and psoriasis, 73% of participants preferred telemedicine over in-person visits if access to the physician was quicker. The majority of those choosing telemedicine(95%) were also willing to pay a median of $25 ($5–$500) out-of-pocket. When time to see a physician was held constant for telemedicine and in-person visits, 19% of participants preferred telemedicine and about 58% of these participants were willing to pay a median of$25 ($10–$125) out-of-pocket. This preliminary work suggests that dermatology patients prefer telemedicine if this modality provides quicker access to their physician.