title: Patient Preferences for Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma: Importance of Cure and Cosmetic Outcome.
abstract: Treatment options for localized resectable basal cell carcinoma (BCC) include micrographically controlled surgery, simple excision, curettage, laser ablation, cryosurgery, imiquimod, 5-fluorouracil, photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the preferences of patients with BCC for outcome (cure and recurrence rate, cosmetic outcome, risk of temporary and permanent complications) and process attributes (type of therapy, treatment location, anaesthesia, method of wound closure, duration of wound healing, out-of-pocket costs) of these treatments with conjoint analysis. Participants (n = 124) attached greatest importance to recurrence rate (relative importance score (RIS) = 17.28), followed by cosmetic outcome (RIS = 16.90) and cure rate (RIS = 15.02). Participants with BCC on the head or neck were particularly interested in cosmetic outcome. Those with a recurrence were willing to trade risk of recurrence, treatment location and duration of wound healing for a better cosmetic result. In summary, participants particularly valued cure and cosmetic outcome, although preferences varied with individual and tumour-associated characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Marthe-Lisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schaarschmidt
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glocker
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmieder
authors.forename: Sergij
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goerdt
authors.forename: Wiebke K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Peitsch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D057240:Patient Preference; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing