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 .
Evaluating Health Workers' Potential Resistance to New Interventions: A Role for Discrete Choice Experiments
Background The currently recommended approach for preventing malaria in pregnancy ( MiP ) , intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine ( SP-IPT ) , has been question ed due to the spread of resistance to SP . Whilst trials are underway to test the efficacy of future alternative approaches , it is important to start exploring the feasibility of their implementation . Methods and Findings This study uses a discrete choice experiment ( DCE ) method to assess the potential resistance of health workers to changing strategies for control of MiP. In Ashanti region in Ghana , 133 antenatal clinic health workers were presented with 16 choice sets of two alternative policy options , each consisting of a bundle of six attributes representing certain clinical guidelines for controlling MiP ( type of approach and drug used ) , possible associated maternal and neo-natal outcomes , workload and financial incentives . The data were analysed using a r and om effects logit model . Overall , staff showed a preference for a curative approach with pregnant women tested for malaria parasites and treated only if positive , compared to a preventive approach ( OR 1.6 ; p = 0.001 ) . Increasing the incidence of low birth weight or severe anaemia by 1 % would reduce the odds of preferring an approach by 18 % and 10 % respectively . Midwives were more resistant to potential changes to current guidelines than lower-level cadres . Conclusions In Ashanti Region , resistance to change by antenatal clinic workers from a policy of SP-IPT to IST would generally be low , and it would disappear amongst midwives if health outcomes for the mother and baby were improved by the new strategy . DCEs are a promising approach to identifying factors that will increase the likelihood of effective implementation of new interventions immediately after their efficacy has been proven
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 .