Lungen- und Atemwegsmedizin

COPD Treatment Preference Study: A Conjoint Analysis of Preferred Drug Treatments

Abstract

Emel Bulcun, Mehmet Ekici and Aydanur Ekici

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine preferences and expectation of COPD patients about their drugs used.

Method: 46 patients with COPD were involved to the study. Preferences of patients relevant to the drugs they use for COPD and their expectations from this therapy were assessed under 6 categories. 16 alternative therapy forms were established for these groups by utilizing conjoint analysis. Patients sorted 16 types of therapy per order of preference.

Results: During the Conjoint analysis the major expectation of patients from the drugs they use was the choice of number of day without complaints is to be maximum (more than 20 days). 2nd major choice of patients’ for their therapy was the choice of therapy cost to be minimum. Other choices of patients relevant to the drugs they use for therapy was respectively as follows; rapid commencing of effective period of drugs they use for reliever therapy, effective period of drugs they use for reliever therapy to be long, combined using of long term effective bronchodilator and inhaler steroid rather than seperate form. In addition, the first choice of patients for inhaler for maintenance and acute symptoms was long acting-bronchodilatator.

Conclusion: The major expectation and choice of COPD patients from their drug treatment were that the number of days without complaints was to be maximum with therapy. Other choices relevant to the drug therapy was combined forms rather than seperate and long acting bronchodilatator for maintenance treatment. Taking account of patient preferences when selecting COPD treatment may help to improve compliance with treatment.