Objectives: To determine whether allocation of resources into further research of breast cancer screening is warranted; also, to identify the parameters, for which the information would be most valuable, to prioritize the further research if deemed justifiable.
Methods: The Bayesian value of information analysis was conducted to calculate the overall expected value of perfect information (EVPI) and the partial EVPI for the six groups of parameters. Computational expense of the partial EVPI calculation was challenged with the use of Multiple Linear Regression and Gaussian Process metamodels to significantly cut down the computing time.
Results: Of the two metamodeling techniques, the Gaussian Process was proven to perform superiorly and was therefore chosen for the partial EVPI calculation. The results indicate a considerable range in the population EVPI estimates, between euro100 and euro500 millions at the willingness-to-pay values between euro10,000 and euro40,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. The partial EVPI for the groups of parameters indicated that future research would be most valuable if directed toward obtaining more precise estimates of the cancer sojourn times. With the use of the Gaussian process metamodels, the computing time was reduced from 44 years to 47 days.
Conclusions: Although the large values of EVPI suggest collection of further information before choosing the screening policy, it is argued that delaying the decision would result in significantly higher opportunity loss. Therefore, the best option would be to implement the most cost-effective policy given the existing information (screening women aged 40-80 years, at 3-year intervals) and simultaneously conduct observational studies alongside the implemented policy. The decision analytic model could be in this manner periodically updated with additional information as it became available and the most cost-effective policy chosen iteratively.