Using willingness to pay to establish patient preferences for peripheral intravenous catheter securement in an australian emergency department

Abstract

Objective To assess patients’ willingness to pay ( WTP) for adding cyanoacrylate to the peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion site to reduce catheter failure at 48 hours. Background Cyanoacrylate has been associated with a reduction in PIVC failure rate but at a material increased cost of approximately 20%. Due to the discomfort associated with PIVC replacement, we hypothesised that patients would put value on avoiding such a replacement PIVC and sought to estimate that value. Methods One hundred adult patients presenting to a regional Australian emergency department (ED) and who had a PIVC inserted were surveyed. Results Thirty three patients would pay AU$70 to add cyanoacrylate to the standard PIVC, 32 were not willing to pay, and 35 would pay less than $70. Conclusions The average WTP for a novel PIVC securement method was AU$31.06, which is greater than the cost of using the securement method.