In:
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 18, No. 2 ( 2024-2-21), p. e0011975-
Kurzfassung:
Target Product Profiles (TPPs) are instrumental to help optimise the design and development of therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics – these products, in order to achieve the intended impact, should be aligned with users’ preferences and needs. However, patients are rarely involved as key stakeholders in building a TPP. Methodology Thirty-three cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients from Brazil, Colombia, and Austria, infected with New-World Leishmania species, were recruited using a maximum variation approach along geographic, sociodemographic and clinical criteria. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the respective patient’s mother tongue. Transcripts, translated into English, were analysed using a framework approach. We matched disease experiences, preferences, and expectations of CL patients to a TPP developed by DND i (Drug for Neglected Diseases initiative ) for CL treatment. Principal findings Patients’ preferences regarding treatments ranged from specific efficacy and safety endpoints to direct and significant indirect costs. Respondents expressed views about trade-offs between efficacy and experienced discomfort/adverse events caused by treatment. Reasons for non-compliance, such as adverse events or geographical and availability barriers, were discussed. Considerations related to accessibility and affordability were relevant from the patients’ perspective. Conclusions/Significance NTDs affect disadvantaged populations, often with little access to health systems. Engaging patients in designing adapted therapies could significantly contribute to the suitability of an intervention to a specific context and to compliance, by tailoring the product to the end-users’ needs. This exploratory study identified preferences in a broad international patient spectrum. It provides methodological guidance on how patients can be meaningfully involved as stakeholders in the construction of a TPP of therapeutics for NTDs. CL is used as an exemplar, but the approach can be adapted for other NTDs.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
1935-2735
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975.s003
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publikationsdatum:
2024
ZDB Id:
2429704-5
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