Methods in informatics: Development of a multiattribute utility questionnaire for feeding decisions in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Evidence that guides practice is gleaned from objective data and from the inherent value set of the decision maker. This study depicts the construction and initial testing of a multiattribute utility (MAUT) instrument for discerning feeding choices of neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) for the clinical problem of choosing between early enteral feeds and late enteral feeds for premature infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. Based on an individual's preferences, a decision may vary from that recommended by the objective data in the literature yet may represent a choice that is internally consistent with individual knowledge and values. Deconstructing and evaluating decisions using a method such as the MAUT can provide valuable information to support the development phase of decision support applications in the field of informatics.