A Longitudinal Evaluation of the Preferences of Patients With Advanced Cancer for Quality of Life and Survival in Malaysia: A Discrete Choice Experiment

Dec 1, 2023, 00:00
10.1016/j.jval.2023.08.009
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(23)03125-X/fulltext
Title : A Longitudinal Evaluation of the Preferences of Patients With Advanced Cancer for Quality of Life and Survival in Malaysia: A Discrete Choice Experiment
Citation : https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/action/showCitFormats?pii=S1098-3015(23)03125-X&doi=10.1016/j.jval.2023.08.009
First page : 1772
Section Title : PREFERENCE-BASED ASSESSMENTS
Open access? : Yes
Section Order : 13

Objectives

This study aims to quantify the preferences of patients with advanced cancer for quality of life (QoL) outcomes versus survival extension in Malaysia. The secondary aim of this study is to explore the change in preferences over time.

Methods

A discrete choice experiment was developed to include 7 attributes valued in cancer management: physical, psychological and social functioning, pain control, survival, place of death, and cost. Patients were recruited via convenience sampling from 2 Malaysian public hospitals. The survey questionnaire was administered to patients within 6 months of their cancer diagnosis with a follow-up 3 months later. Conditional logit regression was used to estimate the preference weight, relative attribute importance, and willingness to pay.

Results

One hundred valid responses were collected at baseline and 45 at follow-up. Respondents placed higher values on QoL improvements from severe to moderate or mild levels and to achieve home death over survival extension from 6 to 18 months. However, additional improvements (from moderate to mild) in some of the QoL outcomes were not valued as highly as life extension from 12 to 18 months, showing that it was vital for patients to avoid being in “severe” health dysfunction. Improving physical dysfunction from severe to mild yielded 3 times as much value as additional 1-year survival. After 3 months, the respondents’ preferences changed significantly, with increased relative attribute importance of physical functioning, pain control, and cost.

Conclusions

As QoL outcomes are valued more than survival, palliative care should be introduced as early as possible to alleviate suffering related to advanced cancer.

Categories :
  • Oncology
  • Patient-Centered Research
  • Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
  • Specific Diseases & Conditions
  • Study Approaches
  • Surveys & Expert Panels
Tags :
  • choice behavior
  • Neoplasm
  • stated preference
  • willingness to pay
Regions :
  • Asia Pacific (including Oceania)
ViH Article Tags :