Quantifying preferences for urea cycle disorder treatments using a discrete choice experiment.
J Med Econ
; 27(1): 506-517, 2024.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38491962
ABSTRACT
AIMS:
Urea cycle disorders (UCDs) can cause ammonia accumulation and central nervous system toxicity. Nitrogen-binding medications can be efficacious, but certain attributes may negatively impact adherence. This study sought to quantify the administration-related attributes influencing overall prescription selection and patient adherence.METHODS:
A web-based, quantitative survey including discrete choice experiment (DCE) methodology captured responses from health care providers for patients with UCDs. A series of hypothetical treatment profile sets with attributes such as route of administration, taste/odor, preparation instructions, packaging, dose measurement, and weight use restrictions were presented. From 16 sets of 3 hypothetical product profiles, respondents evaluated attributes most preferred for prescription selection or patient adherence. Attributes assumed a higher overall preference if relative importance (RI) scores were >16.67% (the value if all attributes were of equal importance). Preference weight scores were assessed. A nine-point Likert scale assessed respondent attitudes, such as satisfaction.RESULTS:
A total of 51 respondents completed the survey. Respondents reported dissatisfaction with current treatments (mean [SD] = 5.4 [1.7]). For prescription selection, four attributes achieved RI >16.67% taste/odor (24%), weight restrictions (21%), preparation instructions (18%), and route of administration (17%). For adherence, three attributes related to administration achieved RI >16.67% taste/odor (28%), preparation instructions (21%), and route of administration (17%). Preference weights for "taste/odor masked" were higher than "not taste/odor masked" for prescription selection (mean [SD]; 1.52 [1.10] vs -1.52 [1.10]) and treatment adherence (73.8 [55.2] vs -73.8 [55.2]).LIMITATIONS:
This study contained a relatively small sample size. Survey respondent selection, the use of hypothetical product profiles, and exclusion of non-pharmacologic treatment options could have contributed to potential biases.CONCLUSIONS:
Among attributes tested, taste/odor was the most important attribute influencing overall preference for both prescribing and patient adherence, with taste/odor masking preferred. Optimizing nitrogen-binding medications through masking taste/odor may support improved patient adherence and outcomes in UCDs.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Choice Behavior
/
Patient Preference
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Med Econ
Journal subject:
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States