Improving decision analyses: parent preferences (utility values) for pediatric health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To gather and calculate utilities for a wide range of health states in the pediatric population.

STUDY DESIGN

The study subjects, parents or guardians at least 18 years of age with at least 1 child under age 18 years, were recruited through our Pediatric Research Network (PResNet). Recruitment locations included pediatric clinics, the Indiana State Fair, and public and private conventions. Each subject's utilities were assessed on 3 random health states out of 29 chosen for the study. Both the time trade-off and standard gamble methods were used to measure utilities.

RESULTS

Utilities were assessed in a total of 4016 participants (a recruitment rate of 88%). Utility values ranged from a high for acute otitis media (0.96 by standard gamble; 0.97 by time trade-off) to a low for severe mental retardation (0.59 by standard gamble; 0.51 by time trade-off).

CONCLUSIONS

Our extensive data set of utility assessments for a wide range of disease states can aid future economic evaluations of pediatric health care.