Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Willingness to Pay for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Care in Isfahan City

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized as one of the most common metabolic diseases worldwide. Given the increasing prevalence of this disease and its serious complications, examining the willingness to pay for treatment costs is of particular importance. This study aims to identify and analyze factors affecting the willingness to pay for treatment costs among patients with fatty liver disease. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted using a regression model. Patients diagnosed with NAFLD who referred to the lifestyle clinic in Isfahan were studied. Data were collected using a standardized willingness-to-pay questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version ۲۵ and statistical tests including Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The mean willingness-to-pay score was ۳.۲۵. Findings showed that variables such as age (P-value=۰.۰۳۵), gender (P-value=۰.۰۴۵), income (P-value=۰.۰۰۳), and basic insurance coverage (P-value=۰.۰۰۱) significantly affected willingness to pay (WTP). Moreover, the study indicated that WTP significantly decreased after a ۲۰% tariff increase for NAFLD care services (P-value=۰.۰۰۳). Conclusion: There was a relative WTP for these services within the studied community, and socioeconomic factors played a critical role in determining this willingness. Moreover, the significant decrease in WTP following tariff hikes reflected consumer sensitivity to price changes. It is recommended that future studies delve deeper into these factors and the long-term impacts of pricing changes on access and utilization.

کلیدواژه ها:

Health Expenditure ، Patient Behavior ، Willingness to Pay ، Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ، Isfahan