title: Eliciting societal preferences of reimbursement decision criteria for anti cancer drugs in South Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to look beyond the cost-effectiveness analysis, this study used a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), which reflects societal values with regard to reimbursement decisions. This study aims to elicit societal preferences of the reimbursement decision criteria for anti cancer drugs from public and healthcare professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight criteria were defined based on a literature review and focus group sessions: disease severity, disease population size, pediatrics targets, unmet needs, innovation, clinical benefits, cost-effectiveness, and budget impacts. Using quota sampling and purposive sampling, 300 participants from the Korean public and 30 healthcare professionals were selected for the survey. Preferences were elicited using an analytic hierarchy process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups rated clinical benefits the highest, followed by cost-effectiveness and disease severity, but differed with regard to disease population size and unmet needs. Innovation was the least preferred criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical benefits and other social values should be reflected appropriately with cost-effectiveness in healthcare coverage. MCDA can be used to assess decision priorities for complicated health policy decisions, including reimbursement decisions. It is a promising method for making logical and transparent drug reimbursement decisions that consider a broad range of factors, which are perceived as important by relevant stakeholders.
authors.affiliation: a School of Pharmacy , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: a School of Pharmacy , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Kyeong
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: a School of Pharmacy , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.affiliation: a School of Pharmacy , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , South Korea.
authors.forename: Eui-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics*; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Analytic Hierarchy process (AHP); Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA); cancer; preference; reimbursement