Background and Objectives

At GEB GmbH, we believe that understanding the preferences and needs of patients, stakeholders, and experts significantly influences decision-making at multiple levels. Therefore, we are committed to offering the best design for health preference studies at the most competitive price. To uphold this commitment, we transparently display our cost structure and provide an example of pricing for one of our most frequently requested studies. GEB GmbH is dedicated to becoming a leader in conducting health preference studies, which are crucial for comprehending the opinions of both patients and experts on various healthcare options. Initiated by our research team, these studies involve a patient stakeholder advisory board throughout the project, thereby influencing the development of healthcare products and services to closely align with user preferences and needs.

Study Design Overview

Phase 1: Preliminary Phase

• Workshop: Discuss the study's aims and research questions with patient advisory boards, expert consultants, and commissioning agents.
• Literature Research: Gather existing data and insights relevant to the study’s focus.
• Qualitative Interviews with Patients (N=5): Identify characteristics and factors significant to patients' healthcare choices.
• Qualitative Interviews with Experts (N=5): Incorporate professional and technical perspectives that may influence study parameters.
• Documentation of Descriptive Framework: Outline 3-6 attributes with 3 levels each, providing definitions, graphical illustrations, and explanations linked to existing clinical literature where appropriate.
• Workshop: Present the descriptive framework to commissioners, patients, experts, and the advisory board.

Phase 2: Quantitative Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) Survey

• Development of the Questionnaire and Experimental Design: Create tools to accurately capture the preferences under investigation.
• Pretest Interviews (N=5 Patients or Experts): Validate the questionnaire and experimental design, ensuring all questions are relevant and understandable.
• Workshop Presentation: Explain the design of the health preference data collection.
• Recruitment and Data Collection (N=300): Engage a suitable demographic to participate in the survey.
• Data Analysis: Use statistical tools such as conditional logit, random parameter or mixed logit, and latent class analysis for subgroup analysis.

Project Completion

• Workshop: Present study results and outline potential publications.
• Report and Publications Preparation: Document findings for publication in scientific journals or sharing with stakeholders.
• Patient Workshop: Debrief and discuss study results in an accessible format.

Financial Overview
The cost of conducting a comprehensive health preference study by GEB GmbH is set at €165,000, excluding tax, reimbursement for advisory board members, experts, travel, local expenses, and catering for workshops, as well as costs associated with recruiting a study or patient population.

Rationale Behind the Pricing

• Research and Development: Extensive resources are allocated to the preliminary phase, including personnel time for conducting literature reviews and interviews.
• Survey Instruments and Pretesting: Significant investment in developing and testing the survey to ensure its effectiveness.
• Data Analysis: Sophisticated statistical analysis requires skilled personnel and specialized software, both significant cost factors.

Benefits to Clients

• Tailored Insights: The study design and analysis are customized to meet specific client needs, providing deep insights into patient and expert preferences.
• Strategic Decision-Making: Assists healthcare companies and providers in making informed decisions about product development and service enhancements based on actual user preferences.
• Regulatory and Market Advantages: Provides evidence to support regulatory submissions and market positioning strategies.

Timeline
The average time for project completion is 9-12 months, not including the time needed for coordination and approval. Timelines may need adjustment based on the complexity of the study design and the approval process.

Conclusion
The pricing strategy for GEB GmbH’s health preference studies ensures comprehensive coverage of all aspects of high-quality research, offering valuable, actionable insights that justify the investment. Clients benefit from a thorough understanding of market needs, enabling them to innovate and tailor their offerings effectively.