Eliciting utilities using functional methodology: people's disutilities for the adverse outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the functional methodology of Norman H. Anderson in eliciting utilities for health outcomes.


METHODS
Lay people in Tours, France, rated the undesirability of 40 scenarios of possible outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on individual linear scales (Study 1) or on a single long scale (Study 2). The outcomes were either 1 of 8 undesirable outcomes, combined with 1 of 5 likelihoods, or else complete recovery, combined with the complementary likelihood.


RESULTS
The mean utilities were consistent with previous studies. On the individual level, the internal coherence of most participants' ratings - defined as the consistency and regularity of the graphic representation of their ratings - improved in Study 1 from their 1st to their 2nd rating. The single scale took less time, but allowed participants to disregard the information about likelihood.


CONCLUSIONS
Functional methodology provides a powerful means of checking on the understanding and consistency of each person whose utilities are elicited.
Gamelin
Alexandra
A
IUT B, Université François-Rabelais, Tours, France.
Muñoz Sastre
María Teresa
MT
Sorum
Paul Clay
PC
Mullet
Etienne
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires