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Our Research:

Methods of Benefit Valuation

Theme Leader: Dr Verity Watson

The Methods of Benefit Valuation Breast Cancer Institute to explore women’s preferences
theme, led by Verity Watson, for advanced breast cancer treatment. This research is
develops, refines and applies a collaboration with Edinburgh Health Economics. This
economic methods for eliciting year we have used a range of research methods to better
preferences in the delivery of understand what is important to patients with metastatic
health and care. Our work aims breast cancer when they are choosing treatment.
to understand what people want, Based on this research we have developed a discrete
Verity Watson
and in doing so helps to inform the choice experiment (DCE), which will be administered
Theme Leader
delivery of person-centred care. in 2020. The study will help improve shared decision-
We also undertake methodological research to improve making, patient information sheets and decision aids for
preference elicitation methods. metastatic breast cancer.
In recent years, we have developed an exciting new area Pharmacists prescribe medications, provide formal self-
of research that applies our knowledge of preference care support, and undertake medication reviews. In this
elicitation to develop Decision Aid Tools (DATs). These setting, shared decision making between pharmacists
DATs can facilitate shared decision making and help and patients becomes increasingly important to the
patients make more informed choices. We are developing delivery of person-centred care. Funded by Pharmacy
DATs for treatment decisions for prostate cancer, breast Research UK (PRUK) , we are developing a DAT to
cancer and persistent pain. promote shared decision making for persistent pain
in pharmacy setting. During 2019, we interviewed
healthcare professionals and people living with persistent
pain. We used the interview findings to start to design
a DAT together with patient representatives. We will
implement this as a feasibility study in pharmacies across
Grampian in 2020. We were delighted that Luis Loría-
Rebolledo joined Mandy Ryan in March 2019 as part of
the HERU team overseeing this project.
In Scotland, all new parents receive a baby box. This
scheme is unique within the UK. There is very little
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. research about the social and cultural impacts of baby
There is no best treatment and each treatment has its boxes. In 2019, we started a new research project to
own advantages and disadvantages. In 2019, we received explore what is important to parents in the delivery of the
funding from The Urology Foundation to develop a baby box scheme. This project will provide information
DAT to make this decision easier for men. Our tool will for future evaluations of the baby box scheme, and public
explain the treatment options in a way the patient can health interventions more generally.
understand and then present patients with tasks that ask
We have a vibrant research culture and PhD students
the patient to choose treatments. These tasks will help
play an important part through their innovative
men figure out what matters most to them and help
research. In September we welcomed Mélanie Antunes.
men share their views with their health professionals.
Mélanie’s PhD is titled ‘Public and patient preferences for
This two-year research project is a collaboration with the
social prescribing’. This research is funded as part of the
Academic Urology Unit at the University of Aberdeen and
Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance. Mélanie has two supervisors
Professor Hashim Ahmed (Department of Surgery and
in HERU (Verity Watson and Marjon van der Pol) and
Cancer, Imperial College London).
two supervisors at Curtin University, Australia (Dr Richard
Women diagnosed with breast cancer also face Norman and Professor Suzanne Robinson). We were
several treatment options, each with advantages and delighted that Ben Sakowsky successfully defended his
disadvantages. In 2018, we received funding from the PhD (with minor corrections).

HERU ANNUAL REPORT 2019 17