Advancing Stated-Preference Methods for Measuring the Preferences of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes [Methods Study], United States, 2013-2018 (ICPSR 39487)

Version Date: Sep 8, 2025

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Principal Investigator(s):
John F.P. Bridges, Johns Hopkins University

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39487.v1

Version V1

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Summary

Researchers often use surveys to learn about what patients prefer. The wording of survey questions may affect how patients answer.

In this study, the research team compared different ways of asking patients with type 2 diabetes questions in a national survey. The questions asked patients about managing their diabetes and the medicines they prefer. The team wanted to see how accurately the different ways of asking questions measured patients' preferences. The study looked at whether patients thought the different ways of asking questions:

  • Were easy to understand and answer
  • Led to answers that matched what patients really wanted

Citation

Bridges, John F.P. Advancing Stated-Preference Methods for Measuring the Preferences of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes [Methods Study], United States, 2013-2018. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2025-09-08. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39487.v1

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Funding

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) (ME-1303-5946)

Subject Terms

Geographic Coverage

Distributor(s)

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
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Time Period(s)

2013 -- 2018
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Study Purpose

To compare stated-preference methods for collecting information about the priorities and preferences of patients with type 2 diabetes. Specific Aims included:

  • Aim 1: Compare methods for identifying patient priorities via a randomized study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02637609) to compare the effectiveness of Likert and BWS object case, or BWS (case 1), for prioritizing the barriers and facilitators of diabetes self-management.
  • Aim 2: Compare methods for measuring patient preferences via a randomized study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02637622) to compare DCE and BWS profile case, or BWS (case 2), to measure patient preferences for medications for type 2 diabetes.
  • Aim 3: Compare methods for analyzing preference heterogeneity via a comparison of 2 approaches for modeling heterogeneity--stratification and segmentation through latent class analysis (LCA).
  • Aim 4: Assess the relevance of stated-preference methods to patients and stakeholders by using both qualitative and quantitative techniques.

Study Design

Stated-preference methods are survey instruments used to collect patient preference information. Few studies have compared their effectiveness in measuring patients' priorities and preferences or preference heterogeneity.

The researchers worked with a diabetes action board consisting of patients, community members, and diabetes experts to develop a national survey to compare approaches to stated-preference measurement. The researchers created different versions of the survey with varying approaches to asking stated-preference questions and then randomized respondents to complete them. Of the 1,103 patients surveyed, half were male, 52% were white, 23% were black, 21% were Hispanic, and 4% were other races. The mean age was 62.

The researchers compared stated-preference methods for two assessment purposes:

  • Identifying self-management priorities: comparing Likert scaling to best-worst scaling (BWS). The researchers identified 11 facilitators and barriers to diabetes self-management, such as access to healthy food. The researchers randomly assigned patients to complete a survey prioritizing the 11 facilitators and barriers with either Likert scaling or BWS questions. For example, Likert scale questions asked patients to rate on a scale from -2 to +2 the impact of these factors on their ability to manage their diabetes. BWS questions asked patients to indicate which factors, such as access to healthy food, had the best and which had the worst impact on their diabetes self-management.
  • Identifying medication preferences: comparing discrete choice experiments (DCE) to BWS. The researchers identified six product characteristics that can influence patients' preferences for medications. The researchers randomly assigned patients to complete a survey with multiple sets of either DCE or BWS questions about medications. For example, DCE questions asked patients to consider multiple characteristics of two different medications and choose the one medicine preferred. BWS questions asked patients to review multiple characteristics of one medication and choose which characteristic was the best and which was worst.

Data Source

National survey of 1,103 adults with type 2 diabetes conducted through GfK KnowledgePanel, a probability-based online panel representative of the US population

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Original Release Date

2025-09-08

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Notes

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