Analysis Group Team Conducts Discrete Choice Experiment Survey to Quantify Treatment Preferences in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis
June 14, 2024
Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease that negatively impacts numerous aspects of daily living. As the treatment landscape for moderate-to-severe AD rapidly evolves, it is important to understand patient preferences regarding the different attributes of newer systemic therapies. Although some studies outside the US have provided insights into these preferences, there has been a need to specifically explore the preferences of patients with moderate-to-severe AD in the US, as these can be influenced by cultural and health care environment differences. An Analysis Group team aimed to close this gap with a comprehensive discrete choice experiment (DCE) study that would allow researchers to quantify treatment preferences and the trade-offs patients are willing to make between the benefits and risks of various treatment options in the US.
Managing Principal Annie Guérin, Vice President Marjolaine Gauthier-Loiselle, and Manager Nisha Hazra, in collaboration with other researchers from Analysis Group, LEO Pharma, and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, evaluated the treatment preferences of patients with moderate-to-severe AD, focusing on monoclonal antibodies and janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. The initial qualitative stage of the study, designed to inform the quantitative DCE survey, included one-on-one interviews with patients, a literature review of data from clinical trials, and clinical expert consultation. The most important treatment attributes identified by patients were incorporated into the DCE phase of the study, in which patients completed a set of online tasks choosing between two hypothetical treatments and their various attributes.
Estimating preference weights using regression analysis, the researchers concluded that US-based AD patients preferred treatments that maximize itch control while minimizing the risk of adverse events, whereas mode of administration had little impact on preferences. Results from this study provide useful information on patients’ preferences, which may help improve shared decision-making, potentially leading to enhanced patient satisfaction with treatment, increased engagement, and better clinical outcomes.
The study, “Patient preferences for treatment attributes in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a discrete choice experiment,” appeared in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment in May 2024.