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

To evaluate the public’s willingness to pay for online medical consultation and identify its associated factors based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model.

Approach:
    Key Findings:
    • Significant gap exists between the availability of online medical consultation services and public willingness to pay in China.
    • Predisposing factors include demographics and mental health status, particularly anxiety and depression.
    • 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 for seeking online consultations.
    Interpretation:

    The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing willingness to pay for online medical consultations, which could inform policy and service integration.

    Limitations:
    • The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
    • Potential biases in self-reported data may affect the accuracy of findings.
    • The study may not capture all relevant factors influencing willingness to pay.
    Conclusion:

    Identifying barriers and facilitators to online medical consultations can guide targeted interventions and enhance service integration into the healthcare system.

    Sources:

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