OBJECTIVES: Functional dyspepsia or gastrointestinal disorders are extremely common in Germany. Estimates suggest that a total of 15-30% of adults suffer from functional disorders. The aim of this study was to identify and weight the decision expert’s relevant decision criteria with regard to the drug treatment of functional dyspepsia or motility disorders. Attributes such as onset of action, reduction of symptoms and side effects were to be examined in order to test their relevance to health care decision makers. METHODS: On the basis of a literature search and qualitative patient (N=6) and expert interviews (N=4), a questionnaire was developed. By means of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the study elicited the priorities regarding various aspects of treatments of dyspepsia and motility disorders. The collection of data from experts of the field of gastroenterology was done in real time within the context of a group discussion using an item-response-system. RESULTS: As a result of the interviews, seven characteristics were established which were judged to be the most important. A total of N=20 experts took part in the group discussion and the AHP survey. For all participants the criterion “reduction of abdominal cramps” was the most important attribute of a drug treatment. It became clear that reduction of symptoms, time to onset of action and risk of side-effects were of central importance. Consequently, the following criteria were assessed to be most relevant: reduction of abdominal cramps (w:0.302), reduction of epigastric pain (w:0.250) and time to onset of action (w:0.117). CONCLUSIONS: The AHP represents a suitable and scientifically transparent approach for the elicitation of experts’ priorities within the context of group discussions. The item response system served as a valuable instrument to collect quantitative data based on a group discussion. The patient perspective in a subsequent discrete-choice experiment will expand the findings of this study.