Deriving distributional weights for QALYs through discrete choice experiments

This paper presents the first attempt to use a discrete choice experiment to derive distributional weights for quality adjusted life years (QALYs), based on characteristics (age and severity) of the beneficiaries. A novel approach using the Hicksian compensating variation is applied. Advantages incl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health economics 2011-03, Vol.30 (2), p.466-478
Main Authors: Lancsar, Emily, Wildman, John, Donaldson, Cam, Ryan, Mandy, Baker, Rachel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Beneficiaries
Benefit plans
Choice Behavior
Cost-Benefit Analysis - methods
Derivation
Derivatives
Discrete choice
Discrete choice experiment
Distributional weights
Distributional weights QALY Discrete choice experiment Hicksian compensating variation
Experiments
Female
Health economics
Health gain
Hicksian compensating variation
Humans
Male
Methodology
Middle Aged
Public health
QALY
Quality adjusted life years
Quality of Life
Savings
Severity
Severity of Illness Index
Studies
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Summary:This paper presents the first attempt to use a discrete choice experiment to derive distributional weights for quality adjusted life years (QALYs), based on characteristics (age and severity) of the beneficiaries. A novel approach using the Hicksian compensating variation is applied. Advantages include derivation of weights for QALYs, not just for life or life years saved, and investigation of the impact of the size of the health gain by allowing the gain to be traded against other characteristics. Results suggest one would generally not weight QALYs, except in a small number of specific cases and in those cases the weights are relatively small. Methodological challenges are highlighted as is a future research agenda.
ISSN:0167-6296
1879-1646
DOI:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2011.01.003