Patient Preferences For Specialty Pharmacy Services: A Stated Preference Discrete-Choice Experiment in China

Abstract

Objectives: To survey, analyze, and ascertain the preferences for specialty pharmacy services among patients requiring complex care and to provide evidence to support specialty pharmacy service decision-making in China.Methods: To identify essential service attributes and levels, a review of the literature, discussions with specialty pharmacy managers and a pilot questionnaire were conducted. A D-efficient fractional factorial design was used to generate the discrete-choice experiment (DCE) questionnaire. A face-to-face survey of patients with chronic illness and their families or friends was conducted at three specialty pharmacies in Chengdu and Qingdao, China. A mixed logit model was used for estimation.Results: Six relevant attributes were identified and incorporated into the DCE questionnaire. A total of 417 participants completed the survey (mean age 43 years, 45.1% males), and 32.1% had lung cancer. The conditional relative importance showed that the most critical attribute was “frequency of telephone follow-up to monitor adverse drug reactions (ADRs), “followed by “mode of drug delivery,” “provider of medication guidance services,” and “availability of medical insurance consultation”; the least important attribute was “business hours.” A 1 min increase in time spent led to a 0.73% decrease in the probability that a service profile would be chosen. Negative preferences were noted for ADR monitoring by telephone follow-up once a year (β = −0.23, p < 0.001) and business hours [8:30–20:00 (Monday to Friday), 8:30–17:30 (weekend)] (β = −0.12, p < 0.001). Compared with women, men had a higher preference for service monitoring ADRs once every 3 months.Conclusions: Preference measurements showed that “frequency of telephone follow-up to monitor ADRs” had the most critical impact on decisions, followed by “mode of drug delivery.” Specialty pharmacies in China need to take these findings into account to improve their design to increase uptake and patient loyalty.

Patient preferences and cost-benefit of hypertension and hyperlipidemia collaborative management model between pharmacies and primary care in Portugal: A discrete choice experiment alongside a trial (USFarmácia®)

“…Our results are consistent with international DCE patient enhanced care pharmacy studies where patients express a preference for a shorter waiting time [ 15 , 16 , 18 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 33 , 34 , 36 ], a similar model of pharmacy intervention [ 15 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 24 , 28 , 31 , 35 , 36 ], and the chance of best treatment [ 18 , 28 , 29 ]. There are still very few DCE studies published on pharmacy-led integrated or collaborative care with physicians, but these also confirm preferences for integration with physicians [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Since then, 12 more DCE studies were published on patient preferences for a pharmacydelivered patient care service: 2 on minor ailments [25,26], 4 on medication therapy management or disease management [27][28][29][30], 2 on innovative pharmacy services [31,32], 1 on the Hepatitis C test [33], 1 on specialty medicines [34], 1 on screening for cardiovascular disease [35], and 1 on prescribing by pharmacists [36]. In 2016, Tinelli incorporated a DCE into an economic evaluation using CBA.…”

Preferences for Physical Examination Service in Community Health Service Center in China: A Discrete Choice Experiment

“…This conclusion is consistent with previous studies. The research shows that urban participants tend to pay more attention to follow-up services by telephone 11 due to their busy work schedules and limited time for face-to-face communication. Telephone service can effectively meet their needs by allowing them to address their requirements during fragmented or limited time periods.…”

“… 10 Hu Q et al find that waiting time is a critical factor influencing patient preferences, and longer waiting time can easily trigger negative emotions among patients. 11 There fore, it is imperative to optimize the medical examination process, minimize waiting time, and mitigate negative emotions among residents. By investigating and addressing residents’ preferences for physical examination services, the services can be improved and residents’ needs be better satisfied, which, in turn, can facilitate the smooth implementation of health examination services and improve overall service effectiveness and satisfaction levels.…”

Pharmacists’ Views on Unmet Needs of Patients with Cancer and Pharmaceutical Care in Specialty Pharmacy: A Qualitative Analysis

“…Specialty pharmacy is a state-licensed pharmacy that solely or primarily provides medications for people with serious health conditions requiring complex therapies, according to the de nition by the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy [1] . Specialty pharmacy, also known as direct-to-patient pharmacy, was rst established in the United States in the 1980s and rose in China in 2002 [2,3] . This model requires that pharmaceutical manufacturers authorize their medication distribution rights to pharmacies and that patients can purchase medicines and receive professional pharmaceutical care from pharmacists at specialty pharmacies [4] .…”