Patients' willingness to pay for anti-emetic treatment.

Background: Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication of anaesthesia. This study was conducted in 100 German and 100 Turkish patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia to assess the amount patients were willing to pay for an anti-emetic that completely prevented PONV.

Methods: Post-operatively, using Dixon's up and down method, patients completed an interactive computer questionnaire with a random starting point to determine how much of their own money they were willing to pay for a totally effective anti-emetic treatment.

Results: On average, participants were willing to pay 65 euro in Germany and 68 euro in Turkey to avoid PONV. However, patients who actually experienced PONV were willing to pay larger amounts: 96 euro in Germany and 99 euro in Turkey. The amount patients were willing to pay was related to female sex, history of motion sickness, non-smoking status and better education.

Conclusions: Despite differences in political and cultural origin, health care system and financial background, the amount patients were willing to pay for an effective anti-emetic was similar in both Germany and Turkey to that reported previously for the USA.