Exploring Patient Preference Information in Clinical Research and Decision Models: An Investigative Survey

Background

There is an increasingly acknowledged role for patients in decision-making processes: this involvement extends to defining care pathways, assessing care quality and advancing healthcare technologies. Patient preferences play a pivotal role in this context, particularly when multiple therapeutic options lack clear distinctions in efficacy.

Methods

To investigate the use of patient preference information, we conducted an online survey targeting 46 experts in clinical research, pharmaceutical industry, regulatory affairs, and health technology assessment.

The survey included questions about the frequency of using patient preference information, perceptions of the benefits and challenges of integrating them in decision making, as well as the availability of such data within their respective organizations.

Results

Patient preference information is routinely used by about 30% of the respondents, who highlighted various challenges and technical difficulties for a more widespread adoption, such as limited patient engagement, difficulty in obtaining reliable preference, and resistance to deviating from traditional practices. Despite this, we observed that about 90% of the respondents is likely to prioritize integrating patient preference information in their future research or decision-making processes.

Conclusion

There is a growing recognition of the potential benefits of adopting a more patient-centric approach to promote a more effective, equitable, and patient-focused healthcare system, but concerted efforts and investments are necessary to support this effort.