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 .
Patients' Preferences for Scoliosis Brace Treatment: A Discrete Choice Experiment
Study Design . Discrete choice experiment . Objective . To investigate the reduction in the risk of surgery that scoliosis patients would require in order to consider brace treatment as acceptable , and to elicit the trade-offs individuals make between characteristics of brace treatment . Summary of Background Data . The effectiveness of brace treatment in idiopathic scoliosis patients has not been established in r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) . Treatment with a brace can be quite bothersome . Patients ' preferences for brace treatment are unknown . Insight into patients ' preferences for ( characteristics of ) brace treatment will be useful for future trials and for the development of braces that may optimize compliance with brace treatment . Methods . A total of 197 patients who had completed treatment ( brace and /or surgery ) for scoliosis were approached for the study , of which 135 gave informed consent . A discrete choice experiment was design ed in which patients had to choose between hypothetical brace treatment profiles that differed in following 4 treatment attributes : effectiveness , visibility , discomfort , and treatment duration . A multinomial logit model was used to analyze the relative importance of these attributes . Subgroup analyses were conducted for brace-only , brace-surgery , and surgery-only patients . Results . The response rate was 86 % ( 116/135 ) . All treatment attributes proved to be important for patients ' choices . All subgroups were prepared to initiate treatment with a Boston brace if the brace would reduce the need for surgery by 53 % . Risk reductions in a range of 32 % to 74 % were required for acceptance of a treatment duration of 3 years . Conclusion . Scoliosis patients stated to be prepared to undergo brace treatment only if it provides sizeable reduction of the risk of surgery . Effectiveness and discomfort in wearing a brace were the most important determinants of the choices . These results are important if RCTs would conclusively establish that bracing is effective , and show directions for the further technical development of braces to increase the compliance with brace treatment
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 .