Patient preferences for asthma therapy: A discrete choice experiment

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to capture patient preferences for different aspects of asthma treatment from people with asthma in the UK, the Netherlands and Spain. Methods: Asthma patients from the UK (n=124), the Netherlands (n=269) and Spain (n=86) participated in the survey. Patients' preferences and willingness to pay for a particular number of preventer inhalers, in relation to days per week with symptoms, days requiring reliever medication, risk of side effects, and requirement for a visit to their general practitioner (GP) or the Emergency Room (ER), were recorded. Results: Participants were willing to pay €35/month to avoid a day with symptoms, €109/month to avoid asthma attacks that required emergency visits to their GP or the ER, and €94/month to achieve total avoidance of asthma symptoms compared with their current state. Conclusions: This study presents European data regarding the importance to patients of different attributes of asthma and its treatment. Study participants placed high values on the avoidance of symptoms, and asthma attacks requiring medical attendance. © 2007 General Practice Airways Group. All rights reserved.