Patient preference for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment inhalers: a discrete choice experiment in France. (4th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chouaid, Christos; Germain, Nicola; De Pouvourville, Gérard; Aballéa, Samuel; Korchagina, Daria; Baldwin, Michael; Le Lay, Katell; Luciani, Laura; Toumi, Mondher; Devillier, Philippe
• Is Part Of: Current medical research and opinion. Volume 35:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 785
• Page End: 792
• Publication Date: 2019-05-04
• Subjects: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- COPD -- discrete choice experiment -- patient preference -- inhaler device -- inhaler characteristics -- convenience; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2019.1574507
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-7995

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Understanding inhaler preferences may contribute to improving adherence in COPD patients and improving long-term outcomes. This study aims to identify and quantify preferences for convenience-related inhaler attributes in French moderate-to-severe COPD patients, with discrete choice experiment (DCE) methodology. Methods: Attributes were defined from a literature search, clinician and patient interviews: shape, dose insertion, dose preparation, dose release, dose confirmation, dose counter and reusability. An online DCE was conducted in respondents with self-reported COPD stage 2–4 recruited through a panel. The study questionnaire included twelve choice scenarios per respondent and questions on patient characteristics, treatment and disease severity. Statistical analyses used a mixed logit regression model with random effects. Utility scores were estimated for four types of inhalers: Inhaler A – soft mist inhaler; Inhaler B – reusable soft mist inhaler; Inhaler C – multi-dose dry powder inhaler; and Inhaler D – single dose dry powder inhaler. Results: The study was completed by 153 patients (50 females); respondents were 50.4 years old on average; 13 different inhaler devices were reported. The most preferred inhaler is L-shaped, has dose preparation with capsule insertion and a dose counter, and is reusable. Inhaler profiles A and B had the highest utilities (mean of 1.2533 and 0.9578 respectively) compared to inhaler C (0.6315) and D (0.2200). Conclusions: This study showed statistically significant results that the strongest drivers of preference in French users of inhalation devices for COPD are shape, dose counter and reusability. Convenience-related characteristics are important to patients and should be taken into account by clinicians prescribing these devices.