Unveiling Hong Kong’s mental health preferences: insights from survey experiment towards precision care

This study, grounded in the discourse on precision mental health (PMH), investigates the service preferences of Chinese adults in Hong Kong. Through discrete choice experiments with 1,006 residents aged 18–75, mixed logit regression analysis was used to identify individual preferences, with sub-group analyses uncovering variations therein. Results highlight a strong preference for services that offer prompt access, affordability and professional endorsement, particularly outside the public sector. Additionally, familial contexts significantly influence these preferences, revealing conflicts in provider selection, access modalities, intervention types and the extent of family involvement. Psychological stress also affects service choice. This study underscores the diverse nature of service preferences among Chinese adults in Hong Kong, emphasising the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance PMH implementation within the local healthcare system. By exploring these nuanced preferences, this study enriches discussions on optimising mental healthcare delivery in Hong Kong and potentially other regions.