Stated Preference Research in Otolaryngology: A Scoping Review.

Objective: Stated preference research methods, including discrete choice experiments (DCEs), conjoint analysis (CA), best-worst scaling (BWS), and willingness-to-pay/contingent valuation (WTP/CV) studies, are excellent tools for understanding patient preferences in healthcare. Their application in otolaryngology has yet to be described. This work encompasses a scoping review assessing the field of stated preference research in otolaryngology, to identify gaps in the current literature and identify areas of future applications of such methodologies.

Data sources: Embase, Medline, and Web of Science.

Review methods: A search of three databases for all relevant publications through 2023 was performed using relevant search terms. Eligibility criteria for included studies included the use of one of four methodologies (DCE, CA, BWS, and WTA/CV). After screening and full-text review by two authors, data were extracted, including relevant methodologic parameters including type of study, survey development characteristics, sample size, and outcome. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Of 3064 search results, 57 were included for full data extraction from inception to 2023, across 14 countries, with an increasing number of studies in recent years. WTP/CV was the most common method (58%), followed by DCE (30%), CA (23%), and BWS studies (5%). Otology was the most frequently studied subspeciality (36.8%). Treatment options were more commonly studied than diagnostics or health state preferences. Many studies did not specify survey development methods (38.6%).

Conclusion: Stated preference research in otolaryngology is relatively sparse, and there is significant methodological inconsistency in the development and implementation of these methods. This review provides research priorities for stated preference research in otolaryngology in an era of patient-centered care.

Level of evidence: Level 4.