Treatment Preferences Related to Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine Among Patients With Opioid Use Disorder in Australia, Finland, Germany, and Italy
Author(s)
Madhusudan Kabra, MSc1, Mona Sadeghian, PhD1, Shehzad Ali, PhD2, Maithreyi Thamattoor, Pharm D3, Tushar Srivastava, MSc4, Aline Silva Silveira, PhD5, Heidi Holmström Larm, BSc6, Radha Sharma, PhD2;
1Indivior Ltd, Slough, United Kingdom, 2ConnectHEOR, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 3ConnectHEOR, Delhi, India, 4ConnectHEOR, London, United Kingdom, 5Patient Voices Network, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6Indivior Nordics, Stockholm, Sweden
1Indivior Ltd, Slough, United Kingdom, 2ConnectHEOR, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 3ConnectHEOR, Delhi, India, 4ConnectHEOR, London, United Kingdom, 5Patient Voices Network, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6Indivior Nordics, Stockholm, Sweden
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the preferences of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in Australia, Finland, Germany, and Italy regarding attributes of long-acting injectable (LAI) buprenorphine treatments and examined their perspectives on quality of life.
METHODS: To identify OUD LAI treatment attributes that may influence patient preferences, a literature review was conducted, followed by consultations with patients and healthcare providers. Six attributes were included in a discrete choice experiment (DCE) study following pre-testing. Data were collected using an online survey platform from adult patients with OUD and included sociodemographic characteristics, treatment history goals, quality of life, and choice alternatives. DCE analysis was conducted using a mixed logit model.
RESULTS: A total of 317 participants completed the survey, 53.6% were male, the mean age was 37 years, and 36% had prior LAI experience. Participants preferred injection intervals of every 12 or 4 weeks, compared to weekly injections, (OR=1.3, 95%CI:1.2-1.6; OR=1.2, 95%CI:1.04-1.3, respectively), and treatments with >70% chance of staying off illicit opioids compared to 30-50% chance (OR=3.0, 95%CI:2.4-3.8). Participants had a lower preference for the following attributes: receiving treatment through pharmacies, compared to general practitioners (OR=0.7, 95%CI:0.6-0.9); experiencing withdrawal symptoms in between LAI doses often, compared to never (OR=0.7, 95%CI:0.5-0.8); 24-48 hours for onset of treatment benefit, compared to 6-12 hours (OR=0.9, 95%CI:0.8-1.0); and 5-6 months to feel stable, compared to 3-4 months (OR=0.7, 95%CI:0.6-0.8). Patients prioritized independence in life, fewer clinical visits, improved health, interpersonal relationships, and achieving sobriety in an ideal treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients preferred less frequent injections, never experiencing withdrawals in between LAI doses, quicker onset of benefits, and a higher likelihood of staying off illegal opioids. They also expressed a desire to reduce stigma, achieve a sense of normalcy, minimize dependency on frequent clinic visits, and attain rapid and sustained treatment benefits.
METHODS: To identify OUD LAI treatment attributes that may influence patient preferences, a literature review was conducted, followed by consultations with patients and healthcare providers. Six attributes were included in a discrete choice experiment (DCE) study following pre-testing. Data were collected using an online survey platform from adult patients with OUD and included sociodemographic characteristics, treatment history goals, quality of life, and choice alternatives. DCE analysis was conducted using a mixed logit model.
RESULTS: A total of 317 participants completed the survey, 53.6% were male, the mean age was 37 years, and 36% had prior LAI experience. Participants preferred injection intervals of every 12 or 4 weeks, compared to weekly injections, (OR=1.3, 95%CI:1.2-1.6; OR=1.2, 95%CI:1.04-1.3, respectively), and treatments with >70% chance of staying off illicit opioids compared to 30-50% chance (OR=3.0, 95%CI:2.4-3.8). Participants had a lower preference for the following attributes: receiving treatment through pharmacies, compared to general practitioners (OR=0.7, 95%CI:0.6-0.9); experiencing withdrawal symptoms in between LAI doses often, compared to never (OR=0.7, 95%CI:0.5-0.8); 24-48 hours for onset of treatment benefit, compared to 6-12 hours (OR=0.9, 95%CI:0.8-1.0); and 5-6 months to feel stable, compared to 3-4 months (OR=0.7, 95%CI:0.6-0.8). Patients prioritized independence in life, fewer clinical visits, improved health, interpersonal relationships, and achieving sobriety in an ideal treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients preferred less frequent injections, never experiencing withdrawals in between LAI doses, quicker onset of benefits, and a higher likelihood of staying off illegal opioids. They also expressed a desire to reduce stigma, achieve a sense of normalcy, minimize dependency on frequent clinic visits, and attain rapid and sustained treatment benefits.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
PCR83
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient Engagement
Disease
SDC: Mental Health (including addition)