Making treatment decisions with HIV infection: A pilot study of patient preferences Journal Article


Authors: Rosenfeld, B. D.; White, M.; Passik, S. D.
Article Title: Making treatment decisions with HIV infection: A pilot study of patient preferences
Abstract: The importance of understanding patient preferences in making treatment decisions is widely recognized. This pilot study utilized a forced-choice paired-comparison method in which 28 ambulatory HIV-infected patients were given a computer-generated presentation of all possible pairs of eight different treatment options for their disease (FDA-approved medications, experimental and alternative treatments, no medication). Preferences were analyzed using binary multidimensional scaling analyses to determine the utility of paired-comparison models for the study of treatment-decision making and to identify factors influencing patient decision making. Results indicated that a three-dimensional model provided the best fit for the data. One dimension correlated with medications that raise CD4+ lymphocyte counts (r = 0.92, p < 0.001) and a second dimension correlated with frequency of dosing (r = 0.97, p < 0.0001). Patients' internal consistency of decision making was inversely correlated with severity of AIDS dementia symptoms as measured by performance on a neuropsychological test battery (r = -0.55, p < 0.0025). This finding indicates that AIDS dementia may significantly hinder patients' ability to use a rational (internally consistent) decision-making strategy in making treatment choices. Results also suggested that AIDS patients base treatment decisions primarily on the likelihood of raising CD4+ cell counts and restrictiveness of dosing regimens, but are not influenced by FDA approval status, volume of empirical support for the medications, or even possible harmful side effects. The implications of these findings for the treatment of patients with AIDS are discussed.
Keywords: adult; treatment outcome; middle aged; treatment planning; drug approval; united states; united states food and drug administration; human immunodeficiency virus infection; treatment indication; medical decision making; dementia; ambulatory care; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; complementary therapies; cd4 lymphocyte count; informed consent; drugs, investigational; patient attitude; anti-hiv agents; lymphocyte count; hiv infections; decision support techniques; aids; decision making, computer-assisted; hiv infection; treatment decisions; patient preferences; humans; male; female; article
Journal Title: Medical Decision Making
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0272-989X
Publisher: Sage Publications  
Date Published: 1997-07-01
Start Page: 307
End Page: 314
Language: English
DOI: 10.1177/0272989x9701700307
PUBMED: 9219191
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 17 March 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Steven D Passik
    122 Passik
  2. Mary H White
    44 White