Parents' Willingness-to-Pay for Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish Therapy in Public and Private Pediatric Clinics

Abstract

Aim: This study employed the willingness-to-pay (WTP) method to investigate parents' valuation of fissure sealant (FS) and fluoride varnish (FV) therapy. Design: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in 2021 among 100 parents. The maximum WTP were collected using payment cards, an originally developed validated and reliable questionnaire, educational videos, and a hypothetical scenario. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and linear regression tests (alpha = 0.05). Results: The mean (+/- SD) WTP was 245 700 (+/- 158 756.24) and 232380.0 (+/- 166 561.71) IR Tomans for FS and FV, respectively. WTP was significantly higher among parents who visited private clinics (p < 0.05) and government employees. Both in the whole sample and in the public group, parents without supplemental insurance had lower WTP values. The WTP values elicited through the payment card method (p = 0.014) and the open-ended question (p = 0.031) for fathers with educational attainment below a high school diploma were significantly lower. There was no significant difference between the WTP values for these two therapies. Income level of the parents was the main indicator in the regression models, especially for WTP values of FS. Conclusions: The demographic and socioeconomic conditions of parents as well as their insurance status were associated with the WTP values.