Measuring needs of caregivers of cancer patients across the advanced cancer trajectory: Comparison of three priority setting methodologies

This study compares three approaches for eliciting the importance of needs of advanced cancer caregivers across the cancer trajectory; measurement of "direct importance" using a ranking scale; measurement of "top priority importance" from ranking data and measurement of "derived importance" using the conjoint analysis. One hundred and thirty former or current informal caregivers of cancer patients were surveyed to assess the importance of eight specific needs using three different methodologies for six defined cancer key experience events. The evidences confirm the similarities and explore the differences among the three different approaches. The change of these need importance across the disease trajectory was studied and analyzed for informing future information intervention practice.