Public preferences for allocation of donated livers for transplantation: A conjoint analysis

Abstract

Despite the fact that the criteria for allocation of donated livers have been laid down for years, these criteria may not help to select a potential recipient from those with the same medical requirements. This study used conjoint analysis method to determine the importance of certain non-medical factors from the public’s point of view. Through a population based study, a sample of 899 randomly selected persons filled a questionnaire where in each question the respondents had to choose one out of two hypothetical patients as the recipients of a donor liver considering their expressed characteristics. The collected data were analyzed by means of conjoint analysis method, and the importance of each characteristic was determined. According to the respondents the important criteria for allocation of donated livers included younger age, being married or breadwinner of the family, more than 3-year survival after transplantation, and having no role in causing the illness. Among the selected criteria, financial ability to pay post-operation costs had the least value on the selection. The findings of this study indicate that the public may values certain social and individual factors in case of multiple potential recipients with equal medical need for liver transplant.