Purpose. The utility evaluation was an effective method to incorporate all of the contributing variables for multiple diseases into one outcome measure. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the utility values associated with varying states of gallstone disease among outpatient clinics participants at a teaching hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. Methods. The utility values were measured by using time trade-off method. A total of 120 outpatient clinics participants (30 subjects with no gallstone disease, 30 subjects with single stone, 30 subjects with multiple stones, and 30 subjects with cholecystectomy) evaluated utility values from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. The diagnosis of gallstone disease was performed by a panel of specialists using ultrasound sonography. Results. The overall mean utility value was (95% CI: 0.87–0.91) indicating that study participants were willing to trade about 11% (95% CI: 9–13%) of their remaining life in return for being free of gallstone disease perpetually. The significant associated factors of utility values based on the multiple linear regression analysis were older age and different degrees of gallstone disease. Conclusion. Our results found that in addition to older age, multiple stones and cholecystectomy could influence utility values from the patient’s preference-based viewpoint. 1. Introduction Gallstone disease (GSD), a digestive disorder with multifactorial origins, was one of the major public health problems in the Western world [1, 2]. The economic and health impacts were also significantly related to its relatively higher morbidity. Of the 35% patients who developed the symptoms, around 80% experience biliary colic [3, 4]. Previous studies showed that the direct and indirect costs of treating GSD patients were estimated at $16 billion and account for more than 800,000 hospitalizations yearly in the United States [5, 6]. However, only a few studies have focused on the implications for maintenance of or improvement in the quality of life among GSD patients [7–11]. Contemporary clinical trials commonly measure end points such as quality of life and medical costs to establish whether therapies were both effective and cost effective [12]. From the preference-based viewpoint of the patient, the utility evaluation was an appropriate method to incorporate all of the contributing variables for multiple diseases into one outcome measure [12, 13]. Objectively, the measurement of utility values was a pattern that enabled evaluating quality of life [14]. In theory, a utility value of 1.0 was associated with
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