Using discrete choice experiments to estimate a preference-based measure of outcome--an application to social care for older people.

This paper reports the results of a study that used discrete choice experiment (DCE) methodology to estimate quality weights for a of social care outcome measure. To reflect different states of need, a five-dimensional profile measure was developed. Experimental design techniques were used to derive a sample of states for which preferences were elicited. The DCE approach was employed to elicit values and regression techniques used to estimate a model that could predict index scores for all 243 possible outcomes. The utility model, estimated on the basis of 297 responses, had good test-retest reliability and converged with preferences elicited from a rating exercise.