Patients' Perspectives Regarding Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment Administration Features: Evidence from Qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Pharmacoeconomics

Background:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) management involves advanced therapies (ATs) with varying administration processes.
• Patient preferences for AT administration are not fully understood and may differ based on prior AT experience and current disease status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient preferences for different modes of AT administration in ankylosing spondylitis.
• To identify how AT experience and disease control influence these preferences.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving qualitative interviews and a cross-sectional online survey.
• Best-worst scaling (BWS) and fixed-choice tasks were used to assess preferences for 12 AT administration attributes.
• Data were collected from adult AS patients in the US, UK, and Italy with BASDAI score ≥4 or current AT use.

Main Results:

• Pain and symptom unpredictability were the most bothersome AS aspects.
• Patients not on AT/not well controlled preferred oral dosing.
• Patients on AT/well controlled preferred monthly injections and avoiding clinic visits, with a strong preference for injectables over oral options.

Conclusions:

• Treatment preferences for AT administration in AS are significantly influenced by current AT use and disease control.
• Understanding these preferences can guide the development and selection of administration strategies tailored to patient subgroups.