title: Elicitation of health state utilities in soft tissue sarcoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are uncommon tumours with varying histological subtypes. There is a paucity of available data concerning the quality-of-life (QoL) impact of STS which could be used to support economic evaluation of future treatments. This study aimed to elicit societal utility values for health states that depict the impact of STS and its treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following the development of eight health state vignettes, a sample of 100 members of the UK general public participated in a valuation exercise to elicit utility values using the time trade-off procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment response state was valued as the least burdensome by participants followed by the prospect of stable disease (mean utility value: 0.736 SD 0.21). Serious adverse events were associated with a range of disutilities from -0.236 for grade III/IV pain to -0.357 for grade III/IV nausea/vomiting. Progressive disease was deemed the least desirable outcome and was associated with a substantial decline in utility (-0.473).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest advanced STS are associated with significant burden for individuals. Treatment-related adverse events were seen as debilitating, however, progression represents an enormous challenge to QoL. This illustrates the significant value to individuals of extending the progression free survival period.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Outcomes, ICON plc Company, Oxford, UK. sarah.shingler@oxfordoutcomes.com
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Shingler
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swinburn
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isbell
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000191:economics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome