title: Involving the public in priority setting: a case study using discrete choice experiments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-care organizations need to prioritize their resource use and should incorporate the public's preferences into their priority setting process.
  
  
  METHODS
  We apply a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to obtain weights, from the public, for use in a priority setting exercise. Ten attributes were chosen: location of care, public consultation, use of technology, service availability, patient involvement, management of care, evidence of effectiveness, health gain, risk avoidance and priority area. From the DCE responses, weighted benefit scores were calculated and used to rank development bids from across a health-care organization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight members of the public completed the DCE. All attributes except risk avoidance were significant. The most important attribute levels were a large health gain to many people: care being provided in teams, using latest or cutting-edge technology and 24 h service availability. Local priorities were valued higher than national priorities. Ninety-five bids were ranked in order of overall score. The ranked list of development bids provided a useful tool to inform prioritization decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DCEs can offer a theoretically valid and practical means of incorporating the views of the public in an accessible, transparent and streamlined decision-making process when health-care organizations are prioritizing their resources.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Research Unit, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD UK. v.watson@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Verity
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carnon
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003256:Community Participation; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006292:Health Priorities; D006293:Health Promotion; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult