Asthma controller medications: What do patients want?

Our goal was to understand which features of asthma controller medications are important to patients. We used a cross-sectional survey of primary care patients (N = 394) with the diagnosis of asthma. Using conjoint or "trade- off analysis," we measured patient preferences for hypothetical asthma cont roller medications based upon their route and frequency of administration, and need for blood test monitoring. Patients were not willing to use medica tions that required blood test monitoring. Preference regarding blood test monitoring was the strongest of any medication attribute that we studied, a ccounting for 45% of the variation. Patients' decisions were also highly af fected by the frequency of dosing (40% of the variation). Patients did not have strong preferences regarding the route of administration (15% of the v ariation). Understanding these patient preferences may lead to increased co mpliance with treatment plans and promote physician-patient partnership.