Patient preferences for pharmacological treatments for obesity: The VOICE study.
About 25% of participants were unwilling to take a weekly injectable obesity medication and significantly preferred a daily oral option over a weekly injection.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the orforglipron (ly-3502970) corpusSummary and findings
This study evaluated patient preferences for pharmacological treatments for obesity, specifically focusing on the mode and frequency of administration. A total of 351 adults with Class I/II obesity or overweight with a comorbidity participated in a discrete choice experiment. The findings indicated a significant preference for daily oral medications over weekly injections.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>With the emergence of new pharmacological treatments for obesity, understanding patient preferences for different medication attributes is important for shared decision-making conversations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate preferences for specific obesity medication (OM) attributes.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a cross-sectional online survey study. Adults living with Class I/II obesity or overweight with a comorbidity were recruited to complete a discrete choice experiment (DCE) and questions on willingness to inject OMs. The DCE included attributes for mode/frequency of administration, food/water restrictions, and storage requirements. A mixed logit model was used to calculate the relative attribute importance (RAI).<h4>Results</h4>A total of 351 participants completed the study. When asked about their willingness to inject OMs, 25.4% of participants were unwilling to use weekly injections, and 17.7% were unwilling to use monthly injections. Mode/frequency of administration was the most important characteristic (RAI: 62.7%), followed by food/water restrictions (RAI: 21.2%), and storage (RAI: 16.1%). In the context of a treatment choice where weight loss and side effects were explicitly defined as equal across the options presented, a once-daily pill was significantly more preferred to a once-weekly injection (p < 0.001).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Approximately one in four participants were unwilling to take a weekly injectable OM and significantly preferred daily oral medication. These results suggest opportunities to better align treatment attributes with patient preferences and the need to consider all aspects of OMs beyond efficacy and safety during shared decision-making.
Background
This paper addresses the clinical question of patient preferences regarding pharmacological treatments for obesity, an area of growing importance as new medications become available. Prior research has indicated that patient adherence is influenced by treatment characteristics, but specific preferences for obesity medication attributes had not been systematically evaluated. Understanding these preferences can enhance shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers.
Methods
The study utilized a cross-sectional online survey design, recruiting adults with Class I/II obesity or overweight with a comorbidity. A total of 351 participants completed a discrete choice experiment (DCE) assessing their preferences for various medication attributes, including mode and frequency of administration, food/water restrictions, and storage requirements. A mixed logit model was employed to calculate the relative attribute importance (RAI) of these characteristics.
Results
The primary finding indicated that mode/frequency of administration was the most important characteristic, with an RAI of 62.7%. Additionally, 25.4% of participants expressed unwillingness to use weekly injections, while 17.7% were unwilling to use monthly injections. In a scenario where weight loss and side effects were equal, a once-daily pill was significantly preferred over a once-weekly injection (p < 0.001).
Interpretation
These results align with existing literature suggesting that mode of administration significantly impacts patient preferences and adherence. The effect size for the preference of a once-daily pill over a once-weekly injection is statistically significant but may not be clinically meaningful in terms of actual weight loss outcomes. Limitations include reliance on self-reported data and the potential for bias in preferences expressed in a survey format.
Key findings
- 25.4% of participants were unwilling to use weekly injections.
- 17.7% were unwilling to use monthly injections.
- Mode/frequency of administration had a relative attribute importance (RAI) of 62.7%.
- Food/water restrictions had an RAI of 21.2%.
- A once-daily pill was significantly preferred to a once-weekly injection (p < 0.001).
Limitations
- Self-reported preferences may not reflect actual behaviors.
- Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
- Survey-based study may introduce response bias.
- Sample may not be representative of the broader population.