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A new study published in Dermatology and Therapy explores patient and clinician preferences regarding treatment selection for moderate to severe psoriasis. The survey-based assessment provides insight on the relative importance placed upon specific treatments presented to respondents on a case basis.
The study’s authors employed discrete choice experiments, which allowed those surveyed to elect among hypothetical treatments in scenarios with varying disease progression and severity. Afterwards, the results were quantified in order to compare the highest rated attributes between providers and patients.
Researchers were able to collect completed surveys from 200 doctors and 196 patients. The results showed that physicians rated overall safety, low potential for adverse effects (AEs), and a reduction in affected body surface area (BSA) after 16 weeks as top priorities. There was no difference in these characteristics when “treating” moderate or severe psoriasis.
On the other hand, patients valued affordability, low potential for AEs, and a reduction in symptoms associated with lesions. In severe disease, these attributes received ratings of more than 8 on a 9-point scale, compared to moderate disease which all averaged at 8. In moderate disease, both patients (29%) and physicians (32%) ranked route of administration highly. In severe psoriasis, the most important factor among patients (36%) and providers (42%) was efficacy.
The investigators concluded that providers were more concerned with improvements in objective clinical disease measures. In contrast, patients placed higher importance upon standards relating to quality of life and issues that impact them directly, like symptom regression. Despite the different targets among study groups, disease severity seems to combine their treatment objectives, the authors believe. Studies like these, they suggest, can help open communication between physicians and patients about individualizing treatment objectives and regimens.
For more information visit Springer.com.
