Synergizing Needs Assessments and Patient Preference Studies for Enhanced Patient-centred Decision-Making in Healthcare.

Abstract

Objective: Over the past decades, criticism has grown regarding the supply-driven approach of medicinal product development. In response, patient-centred methods have been developed to inform decision-making. This perspective paper aims to reflect on two of these methods, being needs assessments and patient preference studies (PPSs).

Methods: A reflection was conducted based on existing literature and our collaborative experiences, proposing a conceptual framework that synergistically combines needs assessments and PPSs.

Results: Needs assessments identify unmet health-related needs from the patient and/or societal perspective, while PPSs determine the trade-offs patients make among treatment options. Although both methods produce patient-based evidence, their differing scopes and purposes offer complementary benefits and limitations. Combining needs assessments with PPSs can result in significant advantages by providing a holistic and in-depth understanding of patients' needs and preferences. In their conceptual framework, the authors advocate for a sequential approach: conducting a needs assessment to identify a broad spectrum of unmet health-related needs, followed by a PPS to capture nuanced preferences guiding patients' priorities. While this approach enhances accuracy and relevance, practical constraints and contextual considerations may hamper its application, necessitating careful consideration of the most suitable approach based on the specific research context.

Conclusions: This perspective paper provides clarity on the effective use of both methods in navigating patient-centred research in healthcare. It emphasizes the needs for well-designed, unbiased studies applying this conceptual framework to shift from a supply-driven to a needs- and preference-driven healthcare system, ensuring innovations align more closely with patients' true needs and preferences.