Gains in health utility associated with urinary catheter innovations

Figures & data

Figure 1 An example vignette from valuation exercise.

Table 1 Health states and levels for “Size and service” and “Phthalates”

Size and service	Male	Female
HS 1: Regular-sized catheter	• 47.5-cm-long catheter packing	• 19-cm-long catheter packaging
	• Not discreet	• Not discreet
	• Somewhat easy to carry four to six catheters around every day	• Somewhat easy to carry four to six catheters around every day
HS 2: Regular-sized catheter and service	• 47.5-cm-long catheter packaging	• 19-cm-long catheter packaging
	• Not discreet	• Not discreet
	• Somewhat easy to carry four to six catheters around every day	• Somewhat easy to carry four to six catheters around every day
	• Access to a specialized advisory through phone and website	• Access to a specialized advisory through phone and website
HS 3: Compact-sized catheter	• 27.5-cm-long catheter packaging	• 11-cm-long catheter packaging
	• Discreet	• Discreet
	• Very easy to carry four to six catheters around every day	• Very easy to carry four to six catheters around every day
Phthalates
HS 1: Phthalate catheter	A plastic material that contains phthalates
HS 2: Phthalate-free catheter	A plastic material that is free of phthalates

Abbreviation: HS, health state.

Table 2 Definitions and description of phthalates and additional services

Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of chemical softeners often used in plastic materials to make them soft and flexible, for example, rain clothes, shower curtains, and plastic boxes. Phthalates are suspected of having a negative impact on human health by interfering with the hormone and immune system and by causing reproductive and developmental disorders. Phthalates are also suspected of increasing the risk of some types of cancer. There is currently inconclusive evidence on the exact impact on human health, but as a precautionary measure authorities in several countries have banned phthalates in children’s toys. Also, The European Chemical Agency has included phthalates on its list of substances of very high concern, which should be removed from consumer products for human contact.

Additional service

When you use a catheter, you can always contact your general practitioner or health clinic, if you have questions or concerns related to the product. When you use certain types of catheters you will have additional access to a specialized service that offers advice and guidance on how to cope in your daily life with a catheter. You get access to both a direct phone line to trained staff and a designated website with tips and tricks.

Table 3 Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents used for the analysis

Features	Size and service	Phthalates
N	455	435
Male:Female	1:1	1:1
Age in years, mean±SD	44.1±19.9	44.5±15.4
Age-wise distribution
• <30	109 (24%)	112 (26%)
• 30–39	70 (15%)	60 (14%)
• 40–49	111 (24%)	81 (19%)
• 50–59	81 (18%)	97 (22%)
• 60–69	72 (16%)	82 (19%)
• >70	12 (3%)	3 (1%)
In paid employment	251 (55%)	253 (58%)
Living situation
• One adult without children	88 (19%)	89 (20%)
• One adult with children	22 (5%)	19 (4%)
• Two or more adults with children	202 (44%)	200 (46%)
• Two or more adults without children	143 (31%)	127 (29%)
Income per month
• £0–£999	67 (15%)	54 (12%)
• £1000–£1999	120 (26%)	123 (28%)
• £2000–£3999	157 (35%)	138 (32%)
• £4000–£5999	42 (9%)	38 (9%)
• £6000–£8999	17 (4%)	12 (3%)
• ≥£9000	18 (4%)	29 (7%)
• Do not wish to answer	34 (7%)	41 (9%)
Experience with catheters
• Use catheter on a daily basis	13 (3%)	11 (3%)
• Have previously used a catheter	54 (12%)	57 (13%)

Figure 2 Sensitivity analysis of utility estimates for compact design, provision of support service, and use of phthalates.

Notes: The graph shows the effect on disutility estimates of excluding outliers or extreme values: no exclusion (100%), 1% exclusion (99%), 5% exclusion (95%, base results), and 10% exclusion (90%).