Drug Attributes and Patient Out-of-Pocket Cost Impact on Preference: Conjoint Analysis of Physicians, Pharmacists, and Consumers

The objective of this study was to develop an understanding of the impact of drug attributes on preference, for decision makers. Conjoint analysis of physicians, pharmacists, and consumers was conducted in an Ohio PPO. Subjects rated drug scenarios that varied on select attributes. Functional status was the noneconomic attribute with the greatest impact on preference. Frequency of administration and side effects were the factors that had the least impact. Physicians, pharmacists, and consumers did not tend to differ in the relative importance placed on noneconomic attributes. These three groups did differ in the manner in which they incorporated cost into the drug selection process.