Willingness to Pay for Irrigation Services in the Cold Winter Deserts of Uzbekistan

Irrigation facilities in the cold winter deserts (CWDs) of Uzbekistan are very traditional and poorly managed, resulting in low water use efficiency and low productivity. Improving the irrigation facilities in these deserts is a key priority for the country. This study intended to contribute towards the development of the irrigation systems through identification and quantification of the relative implicit values smallholder farmers confer to the key characteristics of irrigation facilities. We elicited preferences with discrete choice experiments, estimated willingness to pay for these attributes using random parameters logit models, and analyzed heuristics in the choice process using a series of latent class models. Our results show that farmers have clear preferences for higher watering frequency and no interest in sharing irrigation water with downstream users. We also observed that there are distinct groups of farmers with comparable but different levels of preference. The development of irrigation facilities in the water-scarce parts of Uzbekistan would benefit from careful consideration of the preferences of the target communities and targeting of the schemes based on the broad heterogeneities within the communities. This will aid in the maintenance of irrigation systems and, as a result, increase agricultural production and productivity.

Exploring Different Assumptions about Outcome-Related Risk Perceptions in Discrete Choice Experiments

Environmental outcomes are often affected by the stochastic nature of the environment and ecosystem, as well as the effectiveness of governmental policy in combination with human activities. Incorporating information about risk in discrete choice experiments has been suggested to enhance survey credibility. Although some studies have incorporated risk in the design and treated it as either the weights of the corresponding environmental outcomes or as a stand-alone factor, little research has discussed the implications of those behavioural assumptions under risk and explored individuals’ outcome-related risk perceptions in a context where environmental outcomes can be either described as improvement or deterioration. This paper investigates outcome-related risk perceptions for environmental outcomes in the gain and loss domains together and examines differences in choices about air quality changes in China using a discrete choice experiment. Results suggest that respondents consider the information of risk in both domains, and their elicited behavioural patterns are best described by direct risk aversion, which states that individuals obtain disutility directly from the increasing risk regardless of the associated environmental outcomes. We discuss the implication of our results and provide recommendations on the choice of model specification when incorporating risk.

OP340 Kidney Patients’ Preferences For A Wearable Digital Health Technology To Support Self-Management Of Chronic Kidney Disease - A Discrete Choice Experiment

IntroductionWearable Digital Health Technologies (WDHTs) can support and enhance self-management by giving individuals with chronic conditions more control over their health, safety and wellbeing. Involving patients early on in the design of these technologies facilitates the development of person-centered products. It may increase the potential uptake of (and adherence to) any intervention they are designed to deliver. This research aims to elicit chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients’ preferences for WDHTs that may help patients manage their conditions.MethodsWe used discrete choice experiments (DCE) to elicit preferences for WDHTs characterized by their generalizable characteristics. The study design was informed by a multi-stage mixed-method approach (MSMMA). This included a review of the published literature, focus group interviews and one-to-one interactions with CKD patients to identify relevant characteristics (that is, attributes and levels) associated with wearable DHTs. We collected the data from 113 patients (age ≥18 years) with stage 3 or above CKD. The analysis started with a conventional multinomial logit model and was extended by investigating heterogeneity in preferences via latent class models.ResultsOur MSMMA yielded ten potential attributes for consideration in a choice task. The final list included five attributes, cross-checked and validated by the research team, and patient representatives. The most preferred attributes of WDHTs were device appearance, format and type of information provided, and mode of engagement with patients. Respondents preferred a discreet device, which offered options that individuals could choose from and provided medical information.ConclusionsWe show how to use MSMMA to elicit user preferences in (and to inform the) early stages of the development of WDHTs. Individuals with CKD preferred specific characteristics that would make them more likely to engage with the self-management support WDHT. Our results provide valuable insights that can be used to inform the development of different WDHTs for different segments of the CKD patients population, moving away from a one-size-fits-all provision and resulting in population health gains.

Modelling welfare estimates in discrete choice experiments for seaweed-based renewable energy

We explore what researchers can gain or lose by using three widely used models for the analysis of discrete choice experiment data—the random parameter logit (RPL) with correlated parameters, the RPL with uncorrelated parameters and the hybrid choice model. Specifically, we analyze three data sets focused on measuring preferences to support a renewable energy programme to grow seaweed for biogas production. In spite of the fact that all three models can converge to very similar median WTP values, they cannot be used indistinguishably. Each model is based on different assumptions, which should be tested before their use. The fact that standard sample sizes usually applied in environmental valuation are generally unable to capture the outcome differences between the models cannot be used as a justification for their indistinct application.

Eliciting gastric cancer survivors’ preferences for follow-up services: a discrete choice experiment protocol

IntroductionFollow-up care is important for gastric cancer survivors, but follow-up strategies for gastric cancer survivors remain inconsistent, and compliance of gastric cancer survivors with follow-up care is very low. Understanding the needs and preferences of gastric cancer survivors is conducive to developing appropriate and acceptable follow-up strategies, thereby improving patient compliance. Discrete choice experiments can quantify individual needs and preferences. However, to date, there is no discrete choice experiment on the preferences of gastric cancer survivors, and no studies have examined how gastric cancer survivors make choices based on different characteristics of follow-up. This paper outlines an ongoing discrete choice experiment that aims to (1) explore follow-up service-related characteristics that may affect gastric cancer survivors’ choices about their follow-up, (2) elicit how gastric cancer survivors consider the trade-offs among different follow-up service options using discrete choice experiment, (3) determine whether gastric cancer survivors’ needs and preferences for follow-up vary due to the economy, politics, technology and culture in different regions.Methods and analysisSix attributes were developed through a literature review, semistructured interviews and experts and focus group discussions. A fractional factorial design was used to evaluate the interaction between attributes. A multiple logit model will be used to understand the trade-off between the follow-up characteristics of gastric cancer survivors. A mixed logit model will be used to explore the willingness to pay and uptake rate of gastric cancer survivors for follow-up attributes and further explore the preferences of different groups.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the ethics committee of the School of Nursing, Jilin University. The results of this study will be shared through online blogs, policy briefs, seminars and peer-reviewed journal articles and will be used to modify the current strategy of gastric cancer survivors’ follow-up services according to economic development and regional culture.

Homeowner Preferences for Wildfire Risk Mitigation in the Alaskan Wildland Urban Interface

Wildfire has become a larger threat to human life and property with the proliferation of homes into the wildland urban interface and warming climate. In this study we explored Alaskan homeowner preferences for wildfire risk mitigation in the wildland urban interface using discrete choice experiments to better understand the drivers of their risk mitigation actions. Estimates of willingness-to-pay for private mitigation actions are increased with wildfire risk reduction for all respondents. Willingness-to-pay for private mitigation is also positively associated with the presence of thinned fuel treatments on nearby public lands, but is estimated to decrease if cleared fuel treatments are present on public lands. Our study concludes that homeowners minimize wildfire risk while maintaining neighborhood amenity values. Additionally, findings suggest that there is an optimal amount of neighborhood participation to motivate individual risk mitigation actions, as well as having a say in the mitigation actions on public lands.