EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Sidhu, Manpreet Kaur

This thesis examines the factors that influence the individual’s decision to undertake an investment in health that, in the short term, provides a health improvement and, in the longer term, provides a potential screening benefit which may require additional health investment. Additionally the thesis examines the methodology of modelling tools that support decision-makers in making resource allocation decisions. The first chapter reports the literature review of economic theory surrounding health investment especially in relation to prevention, which is applied to the sight test; examining the sight test as a health improvement and as a screening tool. The second chapter empirically examines ‘what factors impact the individual’s decision to undertake a re-investment in health, based on an increase in information’, specifically in the sight test market. The third chapter empirically examines the second part of the main hypothesis, ‘how does the risk of requiring an additional heath investment impact on the decision to undertake the initial investment’, specifically within the general practitioner and prescription charges paradigm. The fourth chapter focuses upon the additional analysis examining the methodology of modelling tools used within healthcare resource allocation decision-making where resources are limited and the impact upon final decision of using a specific tool. It is found that the risk of requiring an additional (costly) investment will decrease the likelihood of initial investment in health, though once the initial investment is undertaken additional investment will be undertaken if required. The choice of modelling methodology will, given identical data and assumptions, not affect the final outcome or alter the decision-makers’ final result.</p

Health investment : how can the state influence the consumer to obtain the maximum health investment?

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