How to elicit the preferences of the patients.
Patient preferences play a vital role in healthcare decision-making, especially in the medical product lifecycle (MPLC) for new drugs & therapies, medical devices and digital health products. The goal is to ensure that patient voices are not only heard but also quantified to guide product development, regulatory decisions and market access. Elicitation methods provide a structured way to gather quantifiable data on patient preferences, offering valuable insights into what patients value, leading to better patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Difference Between Exploration and Elicitation Methods
Patient preference methods are generally classified into two broad categories: exploration and elicitation. Exploration methods are qualitative and aim to gather descriptive data through participant observation and subjective experiences. These methods help to understand the underlying reasons and motivations behind patient preferences and are often conducted together with elicitation methods in a mixed method study approach. This dual approach combines the depth of qualitative insights with the statistical rigor of quantitative data, offering a comprehensive understanding of patient preferences.
Types of Preference Elicitation Methods
Patient preference elicitation methods can be categorized based on the quantitative technique used to elicit patient preferences: discrete choice & ranking, indifference and rating methods. Discrete choice & ranking methods involve patients making choices or ranking attributes to reveal their preferences among different options. Indifference methods, require patients to indicate the point at which they are indifferent between two scenarios, helping to assess trade-offs between different health outcomes. Rating methods, ask patients to rate their preferences on a scale, providing a direct measure of the strength of their preferences for different attributes. This categorisation ensures that researchers can choose the most suitable approach to effectively capture patient preference given their study aims.
Rationale for Preference Elicitation
Incorporating patient preferences into healthcare decision-making is increasingly recognized as essential for several reasons:
Enhanced Patient-Centred Care: Understanding what patients value allows for more personalized treatment plans, improving overall satisfaction and adherence to medical recommendations.
Regulatory Requirements: Regulatory bodies, like the FDA, are advocating for the inclusion of patient preferences in the evaluation of new medical products. This can influence approval and market access decisions.
Improved Health Outcomes: Aligning treatments with patient preferences can lead to better health outcomes, as patients are more likely to follow treatment regimens that align with their values and lifestyle.
Economic Value: Knowing patient willingness to pay for certain treatments can help in pricing strategies and health economic evaluations, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently.
Risk-Benefit Analysis: Elicitation methods help in understanding the trade-offs patients are willing to make, which is crucial for assessing the risk-benefit ratio of new treatments.
Market Success: Products designed with patient preferences in mind are more likely to succeed in the market, as they meet the actual needs and desires of the end-users.
Value of Evidence from Patient Preference Elicitation
Summary
Eliciting patient preferences through quantitative methods is essential for integrating the patient voice into the MPLC. Each method offers unique insights, and the choice of method should align with the specific research question and context. As the field evolves, ongoing research and methodological advancements will continue to enhance our understanding of patient preferences, ultimately leading to more patient-centered healthcare.
At DHT.health we have expertise in preference research. Our team members have previously been involved in research for the IMI PREFER initiative.
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Reference:
V Soekhai et al. 2019.Methods for exploring and eliciting patient preferences in the medical product lifecycle: a literature review, Drug Discovery Today, Volume 24, Issue 7, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2019.05.001
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