Analysis of New Patient’s Willingness to Pay Additional Costs for Securing Satisfactory Consultation Time

Background: We evaluated new patient`s satisfactory consultation time (SCT) and their willingness to pay additional costs (WPAC) for their SCT. Methods: We surveyed medical service satisfaction, SCT, WPAC for their SCT, and payable amount to 612 new patients of single gen eral hospital and measured their real consultation time (RCT). To compare WPAC and payable amount, we divided RCT into 4 groups (≤3 minutes, 3-5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, and >10 minutes), and SCT into 3 groups (≤5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, and >10 minutes). On the basis of WPAC, we estimated new patient`s SCT. Results: RCT was 6.2 minutes, SCT was 8.9 minutes, and medical service satisfaction score was 4.3 (out of 5). The number of patients having WPAC (payable group) was 381 (62.3%) and the amount was 5,853 Korean won. Their RCT and SCT were longer than non-payable group (6.4 minutes vs. 5.7 minutes, 9.3 minutes vs. 8.2 minutes). From multiple logistic regression analysis, WPAC of RCT 5-10 minutes was higher than that RCT ≤3 minutes (odds ratio=1.78). Payable amount was highest in RCT >10 minutes (6,950 Ko rea won) and SCT >10 minutes (7,458 Korean won). Intuitively we suggest 10 minutes as SCT, based on payable group`s SCT (9.3 minutes) and cut-off time differentiating payable group with non-payable group (10 minutes). Conclusion: We found that new patient had WPAC for their SCT and the longer the SCT, the greater the amount. From this, we hope that current simplified new patient consultation fee calculating system should be modified combining the consultation time factor.ope