OBJECTIVES:

A novel multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test can screen for multiple types of cancer via a single blood draw. This screening test could be implemented in a broad segment of the population. As with any screening, there is potential for false positive (FP) results. Economic modeling to assess the value of incorporating MCED testing with conventional cancer screening would need to consider the impact of FPs. The purpose of this study was to estimate the disutility (i.e., decrease in health state utility) associated with FPs.

METHODS:

In time trade-off interviews, UK general population participants valued health state vignettes drafted based on literature review and clinician input. Ten vignettes described cancer screening with a true negative result or FP results. Each FP vignette described a common diagnostic pathway following an FP result suggesting lung, colorectal, breast, or pancreatic cancer. Every pathway ended with a negative result (no cancer detected) following diagnostic workup.

RESULTS:

A total of 203 participants completed interviews (49.8% male; mean age = 42.0 years). Mean (SD) utilities were 0.958 (0.065) for true negative screening and ranged from 0.847 (0.145) for FP lung cancer screening with a six-month follow-up to 0.932 (0.059) for FP breast cancer screening with a mammogram/ultrasound follow-up but no biopsy. Disutilities for FPs ranged from 0.031 to 0.111.

CONCLUSIONS:

All FP results were associated with a disutility compared to a true negative result. Vignettes describing longer diagnostic follow-up periods, greater number of tests, and FPs for types of cancer generally considered to be more severe resulted in greater disutility. Utility values estimated in this study could be useful for cost-utility analyses examining the value of cancer screening.