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 .
Dialysis modality preference of patients with CKD and family caregivers: a discrete-choice study.
BACKGROUND Dialysis modality preferences of patients with chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) and family caregivers are important , yet rarely quantified . STUDY DESIGN Prospect i ve , unlabeled , discrete-choice experiment with r and om-parameter logit analysis . SETTING & PARTICIPANTS Adults with stages 3 - 5 CKD and caregivers educated about dialysis treatment options from 8 Australian renal clinics . PREDICTORS Preferences for and trade-offs between the dialysis treatment attributes of life expectancy , number of hospital visits per week , ability to travel , hours per treatment , treatment time of day , subsidized transport service , and flexibility of treatment schedule . OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS Results presented as ORs for preferring home-based or in-center dialysis to conservative care . RESULTS 105 predialysis patients and 73 family caregivers completed the study . Median patient age was 63 years , and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 18.1 ( range , 6 - 34 ) mL/min/1.73 m(2 ) . Median caregiver age was 61 years .  Home-based dialysis ( either peritoneal or home hemodialysis ) was chosen by patients in 65 % of choice sets ; in-center dialysis , in 35 % ; and conservative care , in 10 % . For caregivers , this was 72 % , 25 % , and 3 % , respectively . Both patients and caregivers preferred longer rather than shorter hours of dialysis  ( ORs of 2.02 [ 95 % CI , 1.51 - 2.70 ] and 2.67 [ 95 % CI , 1.85 - 3.85 ] for patients and caregivers , respectively ) , but were less likely to choose nocturnal than daytime dialysis ( ORs of 0.07 [ 95 % CI , 0.01 - 0.75 ] and 0.03 [ 95 % CI , 0.01 - 0.20 ] ) . Patients were willing to forgo 23 ( 95 % CI , 19 - 27 ) months of life expectancy with home-based dialysis to decrease their travel restrictions . For caregivers , this was 17 ( 95 % CI , 16 - 18 ) patient-months . LIMITATIONS Data were limited to stated preferences rather than actual choice of dialysis modality . CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that it is rare for caregivers to prefer conservative nondialytic care for family members with CKD . Home-based dialysis modalities that enable patients and their family members to travel with minimal restriction would be strongly aligned with the preferences of both parties
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 .