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 .
In the Eye of the Beholder: Preferences of Patients, Family Physicians, and Surgeons for Lumbar Spinal Surgery
Study Design . Survey to all orthopedic and neurosurgeons , a r and om sample of family physicians ( FPs ) and patients in Ontario , Canada . Objective . To identify the dominant clinical factors influencing patient and physician preferences for lumbar spinal surgery .  Summary of Background Data . Surgery on the degenerative lumbar spine offers significant benefit for patients with moderate-severe symptoms failing nonoperative treatment . Referring FPs have little appreciation of factors that identify the ideal surgical c and i date . Differences in preferences may lead to wide variation in referrals and impedes the shared decision-making process . Methods . We used conjoint analysis , a rigorous method for eliciting preferences , to determine the importance that respondents place on decisions for lumbar spinal surgery . We identified 6 clinical factors ( walking tolerance , pain duration , severity , neurologic symptoms , typical onset , and dominant location of pain ) and presented hypothetical vignettes to participants who rated their preference for surgery . Data were analyzed using r and om-effects ordered probit regression models and the importance of each clinical factor relative to the others was determined . Results . We obtained responses from 131 surgeons , 202 FPs , and 164 patients . We found that FPs had the highest overall preferences for surgery and surgeons had the lowest . Surgeons placed the highest importance on the location of pain . FPs considered neurologic symptoms , walking tolerance , and severity to be of similar importance . Pain severity , walking tolerance , and duration of pain were the most important factors for patients in deciding for surgery . Orthopedic ( over neurosurgical ) surgeons had a lower preference for surgery ( P < 0.05 ) . Older patients ( P < 0.03 ) and previous surgical consultation ( P < 0.03 ) had greater patient preferences for surgery . Conclusion . Different preferences for surgery exist between surgeons , FPs , and patients . FPs may reduce over- and under-referrals by appreciating surgeons ' importance on location of pain ( leg vs. back ) . Surgeons and FPs may improve the shared decision-making process by underst and ing that patients place high importance on quality of life symptoms
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 .