Navigating Patient Preferences in Ulcerative Colitis Treatment: Insights From a Multinational Evidence Synthesis
Author(s)
Raju Gautam, MSc1, Anoushka Pathak, MSc2, Anuja Bhardwaj, MSc2, Devian Parra-Padilla, MSc1, Tushar Srivastava, MSc1, Radha Sharma, PhD3.
1ConnectHEOR, London, United Kingdom, 2ConnectHEOR, Delhi, India, 3ConnectHEOR, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
1ConnectHEOR, London, United Kingdom, 2ConnectHEOR, Delhi, India, 3ConnectHEOR, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
OBJECTIVES: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease that significantly affects patients’ quality of life (QoL). Understanding the patient’s preferences is crucial for improving treatment adherence, outcomes, and delivering patient-centered care. This review synthesizes global evidence on treatment preferences of patients with UC.
METHODS: A targeted literature review was conducted using PubMed database (June 2015-May 2025) to identify studies reporting patient preferences in UC. Disease terms were combined with patient preference terms. Only full papers published in English were included.
RESULTS: Out of 125 records screened, 20 unique studies were included in the analysis. The included studies were commonly from UK (n=6), Canada (n=3), Germany (n=2), or Japan (n=2). Three studies were multi-country. Most studies were conducted as surveys (n=12), followed by prospective (n=4) and retrospective design (n=2). In terms of methodology, qualitative surveys/interviews were most common (n=17), followed by discrete choice experiments (n=6). Seven common themes were reported, which included (1) Efficacy: patients prioritizing remission and rapid symptom relief; (2) safety and tolerability: consideration between effectiveness and potential adverse effects of treatments; (3) convenience and QOL: oral and less frequent dosage was preferred to reduce life disruption; (4) shared decision making: patients emphasized the value of participating in treatment decisions, and clear and empathetic communication with healthcare providers; (5) risk tolerance: some patients were willing to accept higher risks to avoid relapses or surgery; (6) therapy cost and accessibility: was preferred especially in regions with limited healthcare coverage; and (7) emotional and psychosocial factors like anxiety about disease progression and the need for holistic support.
CONCLUSIONS: This analysis highlights that patients’ preferences in UC treatment encompass efficacy, safety, convenience, QoL, and psychosocial well-being. Integrating these preferences into clinical practice and health technology assessment is essential for advancing patient-centered care and optimizing outcomes in UC.
METHODS: A targeted literature review was conducted using PubMed database (June 2015-May 2025) to identify studies reporting patient preferences in UC. Disease terms were combined with patient preference terms. Only full papers published in English were included.
RESULTS: Out of 125 records screened, 20 unique studies were included in the analysis. The included studies were commonly from UK (n=6), Canada (n=3), Germany (n=2), or Japan (n=2). Three studies were multi-country. Most studies were conducted as surveys (n=12), followed by prospective (n=4) and retrospective design (n=2). In terms of methodology, qualitative surveys/interviews were most common (n=17), followed by discrete choice experiments (n=6). Seven common themes were reported, which included (1) Efficacy: patients prioritizing remission and rapid symptom relief; (2) safety and tolerability: consideration between effectiveness and potential adverse effects of treatments; (3) convenience and QOL: oral and less frequent dosage was preferred to reduce life disruption; (4) shared decision making: patients emphasized the value of participating in treatment decisions, and clear and empathetic communication with healthcare providers; (5) risk tolerance: some patients were willing to accept higher risks to avoid relapses or surgery; (6) therapy cost and accessibility: was preferred especially in regions with limited healthcare coverage; and (7) emotional and psychosocial factors like anxiety about disease progression and the need for holistic support.
CONCLUSIONS: This analysis highlights that patients’ preferences in UC treatment encompass efficacy, safety, convenience, QoL, and psychosocial well-being. Integrating these preferences into clinical practice and health technology assessment is essential for advancing patient-centered care and optimizing outcomes in UC.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
PCR164
Topic
Patient-Centered Research, Study Approaches
Disease
Gastrointestinal Disorders