Patient preferences for breast cancer treatments: a discrete choice experiment in France, Ireland, Poland and Spain.

Aim: To understand breast cancer patients' trade-offs when choosing treatments and to identify the most important treatment attributes which drive decisions. Materials & methods: A discrete choice experiment was conducted in France, Ireland, Poland and Spain. Progression-free survival, febrile neutropenia, pain, functional well-being and out-of-pocket payment were the treatment attributes. Results: 371 patients were willing to pay €6896 per year for 1 additional year of progression-free survival, €17,288 per year for perfect functional well-being and €15,138 for one pain-free year. Patients are willing to trade off progression-free survival months for better functional abilities and less pain. Conclusion: Patient preferences should be considered by regulatory agencies, reimbursement bodies, payors and clinicians for best treatment choices for the individuals.

The authors wanted to explore what breast cancer patients want the most from their cancer treatments. For this purpose, their preferences were collected in four European countries via a discrete choice experiment. The study showed that patients prefer treatments that improve their ability to function well in their daily lives and reduce their levels of pain. Patients' preferences for treatment outcomes might differ from those of the treating clinicians or regulators. Hence, these aspects can be discussed with their clinicians to make a joint decision on the choice of treatments.

Communication difficulties reported by patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and their carers: a European focus group study.

This paper explores commonalities in the experience and unmet needs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and carers in Europe throughout the care pathway, focusing specifically on the unmet communication needs of patients and carers. Four patient organisations/groups in Europe held focus groups (Italy (seven patients and four carers); Belgium (six patients); Ireland (23 patients and 10 carers); and England, UK (five patients and three carers)). A focus group schedule was provided and translated into the language of each focus group by the European Lung Foundation (ELF). Content analysis was conducted by the ELF and verified by the authors of the paper. Three main themes emerged: professional-patient, professional-professional and patient-patient communication. Within these themes, eight priority areas were highlighted by two or more of the focus groups. In addition, 17 suggested action points were identified. Patients and carers in Europe have unmet communication needs, which could be met by specialist physicians and specialist centres providing more effective information and signposting to support services, including support groups and patient organisations.

Ageing and work: an overview.

Population ageing presents both challenges and opportunities to ensure the availability of a healthy and productive workforce. Recent European legislation requires that employers take action to ensure older workers are retained in suitable occupations. This warrants investigation of how the needs of an ageing workforce and their employers can be best met. A new view of ageing is beginning to focus on the capacity and potential of older workers. This is challenging the view of age being associated with loss in ability and decline in performance. An increasing number of research groups and projects are informing 'Ageing' policies, initiatives and practice. The current series of articles in this in-depth review of Ageing and Work are intended to make a further contribution to this area.