Patient and caregiver preferences on treatment attributes for atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Background

The expanding number of potential treatment options for atopic dermatitis (AD) highlights the need to better understand the treatment preferences of individuals with AD.

Objective

This study identified attributes that most greatly influenced treatment preferences of adults/adolescents/caregivers of children with mild/moderate/severe AD.

Methods

Adults (≥18 years), adolescents (12–17 years), and caregivers of children (2–11 years) with mild, moderate, or severe AD in the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify and generate themes across the interview results describing the treatment attributes of greatest importance to participants.

Results

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 35 adults, 35 caregivers, and 33 adolescent participants across both countries (n = 103; US = 51; UK = 52) and all severity groups (mild = 43; moderate = 47; severe = 13). The most important treatment attributes included efficacy (96.1%; speed and duration of symptom relief), mode of administration (66.0%; route of administration, frequency, and convenience), and side effects (55.3%, short-term, long-term, and general).

Conclusions

Efficacy, mode of administration, and side effects were the most important attributes that influenced AD treatment preferences for patients and caregivers across different countries, ages, and disease severity. These results may assist patients/caregivers/clinicians in shared decision-making discussions to improve treatment adherence and outcomes.

Keywords:

• Atopic dermatitis
• treatment preferences
• patient preference
• semistructured interviews
• shared decision-making

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Brian Samsell, of RTI Health Solutions, for medical writing assistance.

Disclosure statement

CE and RC are employees of RTI Health Solutions. EE was an employee of RTI Health Solutions at the time this study was conducted. MAZ, JCC, MD, LT, and DEM are employees and stockholders of Pfizer Inc. SRF and JZ are consultants for Pfizer but received no funding for contributions to this article. JZ is a consultant for AbbVie, Almirall, Cassiopea, EPI Health, Galderma, Johnson & Johnson, Journey, L’Oréal, Ortho Dermatologics, Procter and Gamble, Regeneron, Sanofi-Genzyme, Sun Pharma, Unilever, and Vyne. SRF has received research, speaking, and/or consulting support from Galderma, GSK/Stiefel, Almirall, Alvotech, Leo Pharma, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Mylan, Celgene, Pfizer, Ortho Dermatology, AbbVie, Samsung, Janssen, Lilly, Menlo, Helsinn, Arena, Forte, Merck, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi, Novan, Qurient, National Biological Corporation, Caremark, Advance Medical, Sun Pharma, Suncare Research, Informa, UpToDate, and National Psoriasis Foundation. He consults for others through Guidepoint Global, Gerson Lehrman, and other consulting organizations. He is founder and majority owner of www.DrScore.com. He is also a founder and part owner of Causa Research, a company dedicated to enhancing patients’ adherence to treatment.

Data availability statement

Data are primarily in the form of transcripts and cannot be made available in order to protect participant privacy in accordance with the principles of the Belmont Report.

Additional information

Funding

Pfizer Inc. provided the financial support for the study. RTI Health Solutions, an independent nonprofit research organization, received funding under a research contract with Pfizer to conduct this study and provide editorial support in the form of manuscript writing, styling, and submission.