Clinical trials compare treatments or interventions to determine which treatment or intervention is best. However, the importance of various health outcomes and treatment requirements (for example, how a treatment is taken) varies between people, and this varying importance can influence ether or not a person chooses to take a given treatment. Traditional trial methods do not consider these variations, and often study outcomes that are important to researchers and clinicians, rather than patients.
Our project aimed to develop and test new methods to determine patient-oriented composite outcomes.
Our team identified which health outcomes and treatment requirements were most important for pregnant people choosing a treatment approach high blood pressure in pregnancy. We then developed new methods to allow clinical trials to reflect the varying importance different patients may assign to these outcomes and treatment requirements.
Using these new methods, we found that no single treatment approach was best for all individuals. Instead, which management approach was best depended on which health interventions and health outcomes were most important to the individual.
Metcalfe, Rebecca K. et al. Patient Preferences and Decisional Needs When Choosing a Treatment Approach for Pregnancy Hypertension: A Stated Preference Study. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Volume 36, Issue 5, 775 – 779 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2020.02.090
Joel Singer, PI
Nick Bansback, Co-I
Mark Harrison, Co-I
Mary Lewisch
Laura Magee
Peter von Dadelszen
Rebecca Metcalfe
Terry Lee – Statistician