Incorporating Process Utility into Quality Adjusted Life Years: A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies

The identification of studies through conventional methods was difficult due to the lack of consistent indexing and terminology across studies; however, the evidence does support the existence of process utility in treatment, screening and preventative care settings. There was considerable variation between estimates. The range of methodological approaches used to identify and measure process utility, coupled with the need for further research into, for example, the application of estimates in economic models, means it is difficult to know whether these differences are a true reflection of the amount of process utility that enters into an individual’s utility function, or whether they are associated with features of the studies’ methodological design. Without further work, and a standardised approach to the methodology for the detection and measurement of process utility, comparisons between estimates are difficult. This literature review supports the existence of process utility and indicates that, despite the need for further research in the area, it could be an important component of an individual’s utility function, which should at least be considered, if not incorporated, into cost-utility analyses. Copyright Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013