# Attribute Preferences for Somatostatin Analogues in Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) Among Patients, Clinicians and Nurses in Australia

## TL;DR

The study explores how patients, clinicians, and nurses in Australia prioritize treatment features for long-term somatostatin analogue therapy in neuroendocrine tumors.

## Contribution

The study introduces a discrete choice experiment to compare treatment preferences among patients and healthcare professionals for long-acting somatostatin analogues.

## Key findings

- Oral administration was the most preferred treatment option.
- Progression-free survival was the most important attribute for all groups.
- Symptom control and gastrointestinal side effects were more important to healthcare professionals and non-metropolitan participants.

## Abstract

Long‐acting somatostatin analogues (LA SSAs) are commonly used as first‐line treatment in well‐differentiated low and intermediate grade 1–2 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP‐NETs). As a long‐term treatment option for NETs, treatment preferences should be taken into consideration. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relative importance of different LA SSA treatment features among patients with NETs, clinicians and nurses in Australia.

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) method was used to analyse treatment preferences for NETs, embedded in an online survey. Participants could choose between three hypothetical treatment options: ‘deep subcutaneous injectable treatment’, ‘deep intramuscular injectable treatment’, ‘oral treatment’; and an opt‐out. Each option was described by seven attributes: ‘Progression free survival’ (PFS), ‘symptom control for diarrhoea and flushing’, ‘risk of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects’, ‘frequency of administration’, ‘treatment administration,’ ‘treatment delivery,’ and ‘availability of patient support’. A Mixed Multinomial Logit model (MMNL) was used for analysis.

A total of 54 patients with NETs, 27 clinicians, and 9 nurses completed the DCE (of 33, 26 and 20 planned respectively). The statistical model showed an overall preference for oral administration. ‘PFS’ was the most important attribute, followed by ‘symptom control for diarrhoea and flushing’ and ‘risk of GI side effects’. ‘PFS’ and ‘symptom control for diarrhoea and flushing’ were also found to be more important to healthcare professionals (HCPs, i.e., clinicians and nurses) than patients with NETs, while the attributes ‘symptom control for diarrhoea and flushing’ and ‘risk of GI side effects’ were found to be more important in non‐metropolitan areas (vs. metropolitan areas).

Analysis showed how patients with NETs and HCPs prioritise treatment attributes for NETs differently. Because the duration of use of LA SSA for the treatment of NETs is often long, these differences highlight the importance of involving the patient when making treatment decisions.