title: Is Best-Worst Scaling Suitable for Health State Valuation? A Comparison with Discrete Choice Experiments.
abstract: Health utility indices (HUIs) are widely used in economic evaluation. The best-worst scaling (BWS) method is being used to value dimensions of HUIs. However, little is known about the properties of this method. This paper investigates the validity of the BWS method to develop HUI, comparing it to another ordinal valuation method, the discrete choice experiment (DCE). Using a parametric approach, we find a low level of concordance between the two methods, with evidence of preference reversals. BWS responses are subject to decision biases, with significant effects on individuals' preferences. Non parametric tests indicate that BWS data has lower stability, monotonicity and continuity compared to DCE data, suggesting that the BWS provides lower quality data. As a consequence, for both theoretical and technical reasons, practitioners should be cautious both about using the BWS method to measure health-related preferences, and using HUI based on BWS data. Given existing evidence, it seems that the DCE method is a better method, at least because its limitations (and measurement properties) have been extensively researched. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krucien
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Verity
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: best-worst scaling; discrete choice experiment; health utility; stated preferences