Does the Public Prefer Health Gain for Cancer Patients? A Systematic Review of Public Views on Cancer and its Characteristics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Policies such as the Cancer Drugs Fund in England assumed a societal preference to fund cancer care relative to other conditions, even if that resulted in lower health gain for the population overall.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the evidence for such a preference among the UK public.

Methods

The MEDLINE, PubMed and Econlit electronic databases were searched for studies relating to preferences for prioritising cancer treatment, as well as studies relating to preferences for the characteristics of cancer (severity of disease, end-of-life). The searches were run in November 2015 and updated in March 2017. Empirical preference studies, studies of public views, and studies in English were included.

Results

We identified 24 studies r

SUBMITTER: Morrell L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5548817 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature