Time trade off : an accurate measure of health states?

Abstract

In a pilot study we investigate whether the inferences we draw about people’s preferences towards life expectancy are altered if we vary the procedure that is used to elicit these preferences. In a Time Trade-Off question, respondents express their preferences towards treatment by comparing a period of health with a shorter life years in a better quality of health and a period of health with a longer life years in a decreased quality of health. This paper aims to explore how much bias is suffered by the existing method policy makers are using to measure population’s health. Willingness to accept and decline treatment is dependent on their receptiveness and ideology towards quality of health and quantity of life years. Coupled with the framing effect, decisions will differ in correspondence to the gain and loss perception of respondents. Our findings will cover the general public, medical professionals and sportsmen which will thus evaluate the comprehensiveness of the Time Trade-Off analysis.