The willingness to pay for online medical consultation services and the associated factors in China: A national cross-sectional study - Report - MDSpire

The willingness to pay for online medical consultation services and the associated factors in China: A national cross-sectional study

  • By

  • Shujie Dong

  • Qiuning Luan

  • Yuxin Zhou

  • Yibo Wu

  • Wai-kit Ming

  • June 18, 2026

  • 0 min

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Factors Influencing the Willingness to Pay for Online Medical Consultations in China

Overview

This study evaluates the public's willingness to pay for online medical consultations in China, identifying key factors influencing this decision. Utilizing Andersen's Behavioral Model, the research highlights the interplay of predisposing, enabling, and need factors in shaping healthcare-seeking behavior, but does not provide specific findings.

Background

Online medical consultations have gained traction as a cost-effective healthcare delivery method, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite significant investments in telemedicine infrastructure, there remains a notable gap between system availability and public willingness to utilize these services in China.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial results were provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • Predisposing factors include demographics and psychological status, such as anxiety and self-efficacy.
  • Enabling factors encompass medication literacy, eHealth literacy, and current use of traditional Chinese medicine.
  • Need factors focus on the presence of chronic diseases as a determinant of healthcare demand.
  • Socio-economic indicators like income and education level also play a significant role in willingness to pay.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should consider the identified factors when promoting online medical consultations to enhance public engagement. Addressing psychological barriers and improving digital literacy may increase willingness to pay for these services.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the factors influencing willingness to pay for online medical consultations in China.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Frontiers in Immunology, 2026 -- Patient Preferences and Willingness-to-Pay for Therapy in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: A Large-Scale Discrete Choice Experiment in China
  2. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR), 2026 -- Associations and Pathways Between Online Health Information–Seeking Behavior and Patient Adherence: Cross-Sectional Study
  3. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2026 -- Effect of a Multi-specialty E-consultation Service on Hospital Referrals: An Interrupted Time-Series Study in the Netherlands
  4. Frontiers in Epidemiology, 2026 -- From coverage to care: how basic medical insurance shapes patients’ experiences of primary care in China
  5. Data and digital health, WHO/Europe, 2025 -- Guidance on scaling up telemedicine
  6. Physician-Led Synchronous Telemedicine Compared to Face-To-Face Care in Primary Care: A Systematic Review - PubMed, 2025
  7. 国家医疗保障局 政策法规 国家医疗保障局办公室关于优化医疗服务价格管理流程的通知
  8. Data and digital health
  9. Physician-Led Synchronous Telemedicine Compared to Face-To-Face Care in Primary Care: A Systematic Review - PubMed

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