Table 2.

Summary of Primary Results and Policy Implications of Reviewed Studies for Stated Preferences for Cancer Screening (N = 8)

Study	Primary Results	Policy Implications
Frew et al (5)	Willingness to pay for flexible sigmoidoscopy was similar to likely resource costs of screening for sigmoidoscopy and fecal occult blood testing.	The study helps establish extent to which a new technology would be valued by the public.
Gyrd-Hansen (6)	The study involved a cost-benefit analysis using preference data and found that net benefits are maximized when mammography screening is targeted biennially to women aged 50-74 years.	Preference studies can be used to identify inferior programs.
Gyrd-Hansen and Sogaard (4)	Preferences for colorectal and breast cancer screening were primarily explained by positive utility associated with reducing mortality risk and disutility from out-of-pocket expenses.	It is important to identify the relative importance of program attributes to identify and exclude programs that consume more resources and provide less utility.
Liang et al (7)	Women would find noninvasive triage tests for breast cancer acceptable or preferable to biopsy if they were equally accurate.	New technologies should focus on decreasing discomfort as well as increasing test accuracy.
Salkeld et al (8)	Three characteristics of colorectal cancer screening varied: benefits (deaths prevented), harms (unnecessary colonoscopy), notification policy (test result). 12% always preferred no screening. 32% would always choose the screening method that provides the most survival benefits (i.e., harms of screening were irrelevant).	In any future national screening program, careful consideration should be given to selection of screening tests based on the community's assessment of benefits, harms, costs, and other characteristics.
Schiffner et al (9)	Patients underestimated the actual test accuracy for malignant melanoma. A distinct gap was found between patients' level of confidence in current methods and a hypothetical tool with 100% safety.	Accuracy is highly valued but not well understood by patients. Better information about diagnostic accuracy is necessary to increase patients' knowledge of and confidence in tests.
Wagner et al (10)	Willingness to pay differed by race and ethnicity.	Preference studies that do not account for ethnic differences may be overstating net benefits to society.
Wordsworth et al (11)	The value women place on having a Papanicolaou test is more than the test's actual costs to UK National Health Service for providing the service.	Willingness-to-pay information can be useful for policy makers.