ISPOR MCDA Emerging Good Practices (Report 2)
This guideline provides advanced recommendations on how to use multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) in health technology assessment, especially for complex decisions involving clinical, economic, and social factors.
At a glance
Use when
Making complex health technology decisions involving multiple stakeholders and criteria; when traditional cost-effectiveness analysis is insufficient; in priority setting or coverage decisions with equity considerations
Avoid when
When a simple, rapid decision is needed with clear clinical and economic evidence; when stakeholder input is not feasible or desired; when methodological resources for MCDA are lacking
Inputs
Decision problem definition, criteria selection, stakeholder preferences, performance data on alternatives, weighting scheme
Outputs
Structured decision analysis output, value-based scores for alternatives, transparency documentation, sensitivity analysis results
How it works
Developed by the ISPOR MCDA Emerging Good Practices Task Force, this report offers detailed methodological guidance on implementing MCDA in HTA settings, including structuring decision problems, selecting criteria, weighting methods, scoring alternatives, and integrating stakeholder input. It addresses emerging applications such as coverage with evidence development and priority setting.
- HTA domains
- Clinical Effectiveness, Costs & Economic Evaluation, Patient and Social Aspects
- Assumptions
- Decision criteria can be defined and measured; stakeholder preferences are accessible and meaningful; value trade-offs can be ethically and practically represented
- Strengths
- Enhances transparency in complex decisions; allows integration of diverse criteria including patient and social aspects; supports structured stakeholder engagement
- Limitations
- Results depend on subjective weighting and scoring; requires significant input data and stakeholder involvement; may be challenging to implement in fast-paced decision environments
- Also known as
- ISPOR MCDA Report 2, ISPOR Task Force Report on MCDA Implementation
Questions this answers
- › How should MCDA frameworks be structured for HTA applications?
- › What methods are appropriate for weighting and scoring in MCDA?
- › How can stakeholder preferences be incorporated into MCDA models?
- › What are best practices for transparency and validation of MCDA results?
- › How can MCDA support decision making in situations with high uncertainty?
- › What are emerging uses of MCDA in healthcare priority setting and reimbursement decisions?
References & sources
Related methods
Similar by meaning
Beta record. Based on the original catalogue summary; primary-source enrichment pending.