Project Status: Completed
Project Summary
Our project was trying to find out what are the most important factors to people with scleroderma who might be trying to decide whether to undergo stem-cell transplant, a treatment that offers exciting benefits but with considerable risks. By talking to people with scleroderma, we found that although risks and benefits are important, there are many other considerations in treatment decisions that should be considered.
These included:
- Burden to patients of cost and distance to the treatment center
- The way that treatment is delivered
- The experience of physicians of treating people like them
- The extent to which multidisciplinary, holistic care would be available to support medical and non-medical needs through the treatment
Our survey confirmed that these factors are important in the decisions people with scleroderma would make when deciding when to undergo stem cell treatment.
The two main trials of stem cell treatment for scleroderma have been hindered by a lack of people wanting to participate. Our results suggest that if trials of the same treatments were designed with patient priorities in mind, the amount of people willing to participate in trials and the chance of results improving the care of scleroderma patients in the future would be increased.
This approach of patient involvement in the design of research studies could be used in any disease area for any treatment.
“Most clinical researchers who come up with their ideas do ask others if it’s a good idea…. but the trouble is they ask other clinicians, and not potential patients.”
So, we asked patients. What did they want from their treatment?
Nick Bansback & Mark Harrison on rethinking how we design clinical studies.