Preference elicitation tool for abnormal uterine bleeding treatment: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Medical Decision Making
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) affects one-third of women and often involves non-cancerous, non-pregnancy-related conditions.
• Treatment choices for AUB are frequently based on patient preferences rather than solely on clinical outcomes.
• Developing effective tools to support patient-centered decision-making is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a preference elicitation tool designed to enhance physician-patient collaborative decision-making for AUB treatments.
• To assess the tool's impact on patient decision regret and treatment satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial utilized adaptive conjoint analysis (ACA) to create a preference elicitation tool for AUB.
• Participants were randomized to either the ACA tool or usual counseling during their initial clinic visit.
• Key attributes evaluated included treatment efficacy, sexual function, cost, fertility, and recovery time.

Main Results:

• High overall treatment satisfaction and low decision regret were observed in both groups, indicating ceiling effects.
• No significant differences in decision regret or treatment satisfaction were found between the ACA and usual counseling groups.
• A significant inverse relationship between age and decision regret was noted, with a trend towards lower regret in younger women using the ACA tool.

Conclusions:

• The tested preference elicitation tool did not significantly reduce decision regret or improve treatment satisfaction for AUB patients.
• Further research is warranted to explore the potential of such tools in promoting collaborative decision-making.
• The tool's utility may be particularly relevant for younger women experiencing AUB.