Evaluating Patient Preferences in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment Using Conjoint Analysis

Objective: To quantify benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patient preferences to promote guidelines-compliant, patient-centered care. Discordance between patient and urologist priorities for the treatment of BPH hinders patient-centered care. Physician assumptions regarding patient preferences lead to dissatisfied patients; a poor outcome in any quality of life surgery. American Urologic Association guidelines urge urologists to consider patient preferences when recommending a BPH treatment. Methods: In this cross-sectional, online survey study using researchmatch.org, participants were required to decide between theoretical BPH treatments in a balanced, choice-based conjoint analysis. The treatments had varying levels of four attributes: efficacy, recovery difficulty, risk of complications (Clavien-Dindo 2+), and risk of de novo ejaculatory dysfunction. Demographic information and International Prostate Symptom Score were collected and analyzed using comparative statistics. Each attribute was analyzed using a conditional logit model, and attribute importance (range in utility between attribute-levels) was calculated. Results: Out of 1235 recruited participants, 812 (66%) completed the study. Median International Prostate Symptom Score and age was 6 (IQR 3-12) and 56 (IQR 38-67), respectively. Complication risk was the most important attribute, followed by efficacy, recovery difficulty, and risk of ejaculatory dysfunction. In a subgroup analysis of age quartiles, participants age <38 and >67 held efficacy (31%) and complication risk (47%) to the highest relative importance, respectively. Conclusion: Males valued BPH treatments that minimize complication risks, while ejaculatory dysfunction was least impactful. Variation in results between age subgroups emphasizes the need for individualized care to maximize patient satisfaction.