Complex Valuation: Applying ideas from the complex intervention framework to valuation of a new measure for end of life care

Joanna Coast, Elisabeth Huynh, Philip Kinghorn, Terry Flynn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)
71 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: The UK Medical Research Council approach to evaluating complex interventions moves through development, feasibility, piloting, evaluation and implementation in an iterative manner. This approach might be useful as a conceptual process underlying complex valuation tasks.
Objective: To explore the applicability of such a framework using a single case study (valuing the ICECAP-Supportive Care Measure (ICECAP-SCM)) and considering three key uncertainties: the number of response categories for the measure; experimental design; and the potential for using slightly different variants of the measure with the same value set.
Methods: Three on-line pilot studies (n=204, n=100, n=102) were undertaken during 2012 and 2013 with adults from the UK general population. Each used different variants of discrete choice and best-worst scaling tasks; respondents were randomly allocated to different groups to allow exploration of the number of levels for the instrument (four or five), optimal experimental design and the values for slightly different wording around prognosis. Conditional logit regression models were used in the analysis and variance scale factors were explored.
Results: The five level version of the measure seemed to result in simplifying heuristics. Plotting the variance scale factors suggested that best-worst scaling answers were approximately four times more consistent than the discrete choice answers. The likelihood ratio test indicated there was virtually no difference in values between the differently worded versions.
Conclusion: Rigorous piloting can improve the design of valuation studies. Thinking in terms of a ‘complex valuation framework’ may emphasise the importance of conducting and funding such rigorous pilots.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)499-508
JournalPharmacoEconomics
Volume34
Issue number5
Early online date29 Dec 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2016

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