28 Nov Cost and Side Effects Influence Patients’ Preferences for Leukemia Medications

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Mansfield

Carol Mansfield, PhD,
Senior Research Economist
Health Preference Assessment
RTI Health Solutions
www.rtihs.org 

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: As the most prevalent form of leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) affects approximately 130,000 people in the United States. More than 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. In recent years, more treatment options–each with its own associated benefits, side effects, and price tag–have been approved. This leaves patients and physicians with a variety of factors they must consider when choosing a treatment plan.

While every patient wants the most effective drug with the fewest side effects, most people don’t have that option available. By asking patients to make tradeoffs and rank their preferences, we can form an understanding of how patients approach their treatment.

This study showed that patients with CLL value medicines that provide the longest progression-free survival, but are willing to trade some benefits for a lower risk of serious adverse events. Additionally, we found that cost clearly has an impact on which treatment a patient would choose. When patients get prescribed something they can’t afford, they are forced to make very difficult choices.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: This study showed that patients with CLL value medicines that provide the longest progression-free survival, but are willing to trade some benefits for a lower risk of serious adverse events. Additionally, we found that cost clearly has an impact on which treatment a patient would choose. When patients get prescribed something they can’t afford, they are forced to make very difficult choices.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: This research brings home the point that each patient has unique circumstances, and choosing the right treatment means weighing the different efficacy profiles and side effects against the patient’s priorities. A successful outcome can be different from one individual to the next, and the outcome they desire depends on their circumstances.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Patients don’t always know that they could be making these tradeoffs. We hope that our results and results from future research will help health care providers have open discussions with patients about how treatments differ and how each might affect their quality of life.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Link to the publication in Blood Advances: http://www.bloodadvances.org/content/1/24/2176?sso-checked=true

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions. 

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Last Updated on November 28, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD