We found a continuing trend towards conducting DCEs across a broader range of countries .
However , the trend towards including fewer attributes was reversed , whilst the trend towards interview-based DCEs reversed because of increased computer administration .
The trend towards using more flexible econometric models , including mixed logit and latent class , has also continued .
Reporting of monetary values has fallen compared with earlier periods , but the proportion of studies estimating trade-offs between health outcomes and experience factors , or valuing outcomes in terms of utility scores , has increased , although use of odds ratios and probabilities has declined .
The reassuring trend towards the use of more flexible and appropriate DCE design s and econometric methods has been reinforced by the increased use of qualitative methods to inform DCE processes and results .
However , qualitative research methods are being used less often to inform attribute selection , which may make DCEs more susceptible to omitted variable bias if the decision framework is not known prior to the research project .
Background Discrete choice experiments ( DCEs ) are increasingly used in health economics to address a wide range of health policy-related concerns .
Objective Broadly adopting the methodology of an earlier systematic review of health-related DCEs , which covered the period 2001–2008 , we report whether earlier trends continued during 2009–2012 .
Does the Inclusion of a Cost Attribute Result in Different Preferences for the Surgical Treatment of Primary Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Background : Nowadays , an increasing number of discrete-choice experiments ( DCEs ) incorporate cost as an attribute . However , the inclusion of a cost attribute , particularly within collectively funded healthcare systems , can be challenging because health services or goods are generally not traded in a market situation and individuals are not used to paying for a service or a good at the point of consumption . Objective : To examine whether the inclusion of a cost attribute in a DCE results in different preferences regarding a surgical treatment  for primary basal cell carcinoma ( BCC ) compared with a DCE without a cost attribute . Methods : A r and omized study was performed in which the impact of a cost attribute on the general public ’s preferences for a surgical treatment ( Mohs micrographic surgery [ MMS ] or st and ard excision [ SE ] ) to remove BCC was examined . This was done by comparing the outcomes of two DCEs , one with a cost attribute ( DCE_cost ) and one without ( DCE_nocost ) . Six attributes ( recurrence , re-excision , travel time , surgical time , waiting time for surgical results , costs ) and their levels were selected , based on results of a clinical trial , a cost-effectiveness study , a review and a focus group of patients who had recently received treatment for BCC . Outcomes of both DCEs were compared in terms of theoretical validity , relative importance of the attributes and the rank order of preferences . Results : A total of 615 respondents ( n = 303 for DCE_nocost ; n = 312 for DCE_cost ) were interviewed by telephone . This gave an overall response rate of 38%.Respondents in DCE_nocost preferred a surgical treatment with a lower probability of recurrence , lower surgery time , lower waiting time and no risk for a re-excision . Respondents in DCE_cost showed the same preferences , but also preferred a treatment with less travel time and lower costs . Overall , respondents in both DCEs showed the same preference for a surgical treatment : MMS  was preferred over SE . Conclusion : Results suggest that , in this population , the inclusion of a cost attribute in a DCE leads to the same preference regarding a surgical treatment to remove BCC as a DCE without a cost attribute . However , further research in different setting s is needed to confirm these findings
We found a continuing trend towards conducting DCEs across a broader range of countries .
However , the trend towards including fewer attributes was reversed , whilst the trend towards interview-based DCEs reversed because of increased computer administration .
The trend towards using more flexible econometric models , including mixed logit and latent class , has also continued .
Reporting of monetary values has fallen compared with earlier periods , but the proportion of studies estimating trade-offs between health outcomes and experience factors , or valuing outcomes in terms of utility scores , has increased , although use of odds ratios and probabilities has declined .
The reassuring trend towards the use of more flexible and appropriate DCE design s and econometric methods has been reinforced by the increased use of qualitative methods to inform DCE processes and results .
However , qualitative research methods are being used less often to inform attribute selection , which may make DCEs more susceptible to omitted variable bias if the decision framework is not known prior to the research project .
Background Discrete choice experiments ( DCEs ) are increasingly used in health economics to address a wide range of health policy-related concerns .
Objective Broadly adopting the methodology of an earlier systematic review of health-related DCEs , which covered the period 2001–2008 , we report whether earlier trends continued during 2009–2012 .