2296 Men treated with radiotherapy have better global quality of life outcomes despite decrements in site-specific quality of life domains than men at increased risk but without prostate cancer

Predictors of preferences and utilities in men treated with 3D-CRT for prostate cancer

PURPOSE

To assess the preferences and utilities for prostate cancer health state scenarios of men treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and the predictors of treatment preferences.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The preferences and utilities for probabilistic health states of impotence and incontinence associated with prostate cancer therapies were elicited from prostate cancer registry participants using a modified time trade-off interview. Sociodemographic, disease, and treatment characteristics, as well as quality-of-life scores, were assessed to determine the predictors of preferences.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven men treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy completed the time trade-off interview. Of these men, 83% had Stage T1-T2 and 30% were receiving hormonal therapy. The utilities followed a linear trend with declining scores for increasing risk of poorer health states. Men showed an increased preference for health states associated with radiotherapy compared with surgery or hormonal therapy. Univariate predictors of preference included income and marital status. Multivariate predictors of preferences included more aggressive therapy and better prognostic indicators. Current quality-of-life scores in terms of global, sexual, or urinary function were poor predictors of preferences.

CONCLUSION

Preference elicitation can assist in decision-making, and understanding the predictors of patient preferences can assist in identifying factors that may increase patient perceptions of poorer outcomes.