Aim: This study aimed to assess physician preferences for later lines (third to fifth) of therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the USA. Materials & methods: Factors relevant to physicians' treatment preferences for RRMM were identified from a literature search and refined in a qualitative phase. Preferences were quantitatively assessed using a discrete choice experiment. Physicians (n = 227) made choices regarding treatment scenarios for RRMM. Results: Efficacy had the highest mean relative importance, with overall survival valued as most important when making treatment decisions for patients with RRMM. Reduced incidences of keratopathy and thrombocytopenia had similar relative importance in later-line treatment. Conclusion: Greater understanding of physicians' criteria for clinical decision-making may help inform wider adoption of new treatments.
Keywords: hematologic/myeloma; real-world evidence; risk factors.
When deciding which treatment patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma should receive, physicians have to weigh the benefits of each treatment against the risk of side effects. This study required physicians to complete a survey on aspects involved in their treatment decisions and identified those of highest importance. Physicians chose patient survival as the most important factor and minimization of side effects as less important considerations. Reducing patients' risk of developing corneal conditions or low platelet (a type of blood cell) count were of equal importance to doctors. Understanding physicians' treatment preferences and the reasons behind them will help identify gaps in education about new therapies as they become available.