A Direct Comparison Between Discrete Choice With Duration and Composite Time Trade-Off Methods: Do They Produce Similar Results?

• Published in: Value in health 2024-09, Vol.27 (9), p.1280-1288
• Main Authors: Roudijk, Bram, Jonker, Marcel F., Bailey, Henry, Pullenayegum, Eleanor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Choice Behavior; composite time trade-off; discrete choice experiment; discrete choice experiment duration; discrete choice with duration; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1098-3015; 1524-4733; 1524-4733
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2024.05.016

Discrete choice experiments including a duration attribute (DCEd) represent a promising candidate method for valuing health-related quality-of-life instruments. However, it has not been established that DCEd can produce similar results as composite time trade-off (cTTO) or EuroQol Valuation Technology (EQ-VT) valuations of the EQ-5D-5L instrument. This study provides a direct comparison between cTTO and EQ-VT, and DCEd valuation methods. An EQ-VT study was conducted in Trinidad and Tobago to value the EQ-5D-5L. 1079 respondents each completed 10 cTTO tasks and 12 discrete choice experiments tasks without a duration attribute. A separate sample of 970 respondents each completed 18 split-triplet DCEd tasks. Several regression models were applied to the EQ-VT data, and the DCEd data were analyzed using mixed logit models with an exponential discount rate. The estimated values were compared using scatterplots and Bland-Altman plots. The ordering of dimensions was identical in level 5 for cTTO/EQ-VT and DCEd models, with pain/discomfort being the most important dimension and usual activities being least important. cTTO/EQ-VT models produced a value for state 55555 ranging between −0.52 and −0.69, whereas this was −0.543 for the nonlinear mixed logit model for the DCEd data. Scatterplots and Bland-Altman plots suggested excellent agreement between cTTO/EQ-VT and DCEd-based estimates. CTTO/EQ-VT and DCEd valuations produce similar results when correcting DCEd for nonlinear time preferences. The ordering of importance of the dimensions and scale are identical, suggesting that the 2 methods measure the same construct and produce similar results. •Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) with duration is a promising method for health-state valuation. However, it is unknown whether it produces similar results to commonly used valuation methods.•The current study provides a direct comparison of DCE with a duration attribute, and composite time trade-off and the EuroQol Valuation Technology valuation approach, showing excellent agreement between the methods, suggesting that all of these methods measure the same construct.•Based on the results of this study, it may be possible to use DCE with a duration attribute interchangeably with composite time trade-off or EuroQol Valuation Technology. Furthermore, this study confirms the necessity of correcting for nonlinear time preferences in DCEs with a duration attribute.