A comparison of techniques for eliciting patient preferences in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the Health Utility Index (HUI), EuroQol (EQ-5D) and time trade-off methods to identify the most suitable technique for collecting preference data in a clinical trial of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).


METHODS
A total of 29 men with symptomatic BPH were interviewed by a single trained interviewer who collected demographic data and administered EQ-5D and time trade-off questionnaires. Participants self-administered the HUI and a symptom severity index, the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) questionnaire. Utility values for current patient health states obtained from the HUI, EQ-5D and time trade-off questionnaires were compared and their relationship with I-PSS data was examined using Spearman's correlation coefficients. Administration time and patient assessments of the relevance of the questions were also compared for the 3 methods.


RESULTS
Although mean utility values for HUI, EQ-5D and 1-year time trade-off were similar, only utility values elicited using time trade-off with a 1-year time frame significantly correlated with symptom scores. The 1 and 10-year time trade-off derived values were reasonable predictors of the I-PSS with multiple correlation coefficient values of 0.379 and 0.265, respectively. All participants indicated that the HUI and EQ-5D were appropriate for assessing BPH, while approximately 10% considered time trade-off questions irrelevant. Average completion time for the HUI, time trade-off and EQ-5D questionnaires was 31, 25 and 10 minutes, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Because only time trade-off resulted in utility values that significantly correlated with symptom scores, we recommend its use for estimating utility in clinical trials of BPH.
Schulz
Mark W
MW
M-TAG Pty Ltd, Chatswood, Australia.
Chen
Jack
J
Woo
Henry H
HH
Keech
Martin
M
Watson
Maria E
ME
Davey
Peter J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery