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A Method to Elicit Utilities for Interpersonal Comparisons

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  • Ann M. Holmes

Abstract

This paper examines how values should be assigned to health states when policy decisions must be made about who should receive treatment. The paper demonstrates that, if priority were to be assigned to those people who would benefit most from treatment, standard health-state utilities might fail to identify resource allocations that would maximize total health-related well-being in society. A new measurement instru ment is proposed that is based on the direct comparison of the well-being achieved by different people in various health states and thus captures such community priori ties. A sample of 72 health administration students used the instrument to evaluate speech and mobility dysfunctions as they afflicted hypothetical people who differed by gender, family status, and occupational type. This preliminary analysis indicates that the instrument is feasible to use, and that the valuations of respondents did, for some health conditions, significantly depend on the type of person afflicted. Key words: util ities ; interpersonal comparisons; ethics; health policy; extended-sympathy instrument. (Med Decis Making 1997;17:10-20)

Suggested Citation

  • Ann M. Holmes, 1997. "A Method to Elicit Utilities for Interpersonal Comparisons," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 17(1), pages 10-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:medema:v:17:y:1997:i:1:p:10-20
    DOI: 10.1177/0272989X9701700102
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Busschbach, Jan J. V. & Hessing, Dick J. & De Charro, Frank Th., 1993. "The utility of health at different stages in life: A quantitative approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 153-158, July.
    2. Torrance, George W., 1976. "Social preferences for health states: An empirical evaluation of three measurement techniques," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 129-136.
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    Cited by:

    1. Paul Dolan & Rebecca Shaw & Aki Tsuchiya & Alan Williams, 2005. "QALY maximisation and people's preferences: a methodological review of the literature," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(2), pages 197-208, February.

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