OBJECTIVES: Interest in patient preferences (PP) is growing as stakeholders increasingly seek to integrate the patient voice in reimbursement processes. In 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published their perspective on the use of PP studies (PPS) in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) decision-making, highlighting the potential value of considering PPS alongside cost-effectiveness analyses.¹ This research investigated PPS reporting in non-oncology NICE technology appraisals (TAs) and the extent to which PPS inclusion followed through into decision-making.

METHODS: Non-oncology NICE TAs with guidance published between January 2020–May 2023 that cited PPS to support intervention attribute/s were identified. Details extracted included PPS type, intervention attribute/s supported by PPS and acknowledgement of PP in final appraisal documents (FADs).

RESULTS: The search returned 88 non-oncology TAs, of which 19 (21.6%) collectively cited 39 PPS, although the study type was not reported for 35.9% of these. Of those that did, discrete choice experiment was most common (25.6%). From 2021 to 2022, the proportion of submissions citing PPS nearly doubled (15.4% versus 27.8%, respectively), and the proportion including a standalone PP section tripled (2.5% versus 8.3%, respectively). Key intervention attributes supported by PPS were administration route (53.8%) and dosing frequency (33.3%), as well as drug formulation and onset speed. The external assessment group positively acknowledged PP in 26.3% of TAs that presented PPS, and the Committee acknowledged patient-preferred intervention attributes in most FADs (84.2%), of which two included dedicated PP-related sections.

CONCLUSIONS: Whilst PPS were infrequently and often poorly reported in TAs, their inclusion often led to Committee consideration of intervention attributes in FADs. Clearer guidance on the integration and reporting requirements for these data in TAs may be valuable in further establishing the role of PPS in ensuring Committee decisions consider patient preferences as an additional non-health benefit.