Urticaria Voices: Opportunity for greater shared treatment decision-making by leveraging the existing high-quality relationship between patients and physicians

Abstract

Introduction (contexte de la recherche)

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by unpredictable itchy wheals/hives and/or angioedema for more than 6 weeks.

Objective

This study investigated the perceptions and potential gaps between CSU patients and physicians on the quality of their relationship and the treatment decision-making process.

Methods

Urticaria Voices is a global cross-sectional online survey with CSU patients (self-reported clinician-provided diagnosis of CSU, recruited through nationally representative online panels of the general population and patient advocacy groups) and CSU-treating physicians (Dermatologists, allergists, or immunologists treating CSU patients, invited from specialized online panels) in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan. With a ten-point scales, patients rated perceived level of trust, empathy and care, attentiveness, and medical care they receive from their physicians, while physicians rated their perceived ability to establish trust, empathy and care, and a high-quality relationship with their patients. Both were asked to identify the final treatment decision-maker: patient, physician or jointly. Pooled results are reported as top 3 box scoring, i.e., % of respondents selecting the 3 highest ratings on the scale.

Results

In all, 582 CSU patients and 862 CSU-treating physicians were included in the study. Physicians and patients were aligned on high levels of trust (65% and 68%) and empathy and care (64% and 66%). Patients reported further high levels of attentiveness (67%) and medical care (60%) that they receive from their physician. Physicians reported an overall high quality of relationship (66%) with their patients. 35% of patients and 51% of physicians believed the final treatment decision is made together. Only 17% of patients and 7% of physicians believed the physician made the final treatment decision.

Conclusions

Respondents largely aligned on perceived quality of the patient-physician relationship, with two thirds reporting very high levels of trust, empathy & care, and medical care. Despite these encouraging findings, there is potential for improved dialogue between patients and physicians regarding treatment preferences and objectives.