Determinants of Online Medical Decisions for Older Parents: A Discrete Choice Experiment

Abstract

This study investigates determinants of adult children’s medical decision preferences for their elderly parents, aiming to optimize healthcare service utilization. Seven influencing factors were identified and a discrete choice experiment was conducted. Data were analyzed with a binary logit regression model. Results highlight treatment effectiveness ( p < .001, OR = 5.945), physician attitude ( p < .001, OR = 2.740), hospital accessibility ( p < .001, OR = 2.136), waiting duration ( p < .001, OR = 1.604), and hospital rank ( p = .001, OR = 1.409) as key concerns when deciding medical care for older parents. Physician title and online health insurance reimbursement showed no significance. Chinese adult children tend to rationally choose primary healthcare centers and Grade II hospitals for effective therapy and doctor-patient communication, suggesting investments in these facilities to enhance healthcare delivery within a hierarchical medical system.