Fifty percent of Group 3 patients endorsed two decision attributesa (difficulty of frequent travel to VHA and urgency to treat) that did not appear in top attributes of the other two groups (Table 3).> We analyzed the frequency of decision attributes identified by male (n = 21) and female (n = 8) patients.
Although most of the top decision attributes endorsed by patients may not remain very relevant with the new interferon-sparing treatments, many attributes will still be important – such as condition of liver, other illnesses, life span, and the promise of newer drugs in development.
We analyzed the frequency of decision attributes broken down by patient group.
The decision attributes most frequently reported by patients were: physical side effects of antiviral treatment, treatment efficacy, new antiviral drugs in development, psychological side effects of antiviral treatment, and the condition of the liver.
The decision attributes most frequently reported by patients were: physical side effects of antiviral treatment (n = 24, 83 %); treatment efficacy (n = 23, 79%%), new antiviral drugs in development (n = 16, 55%%); psychological side effects of antiviral treatment (n = 16, 55%%); and the condition of the liver (n = 15, 52%%).
Average number of decision attributes considered was calculated overall and by group.
These findings by groups and gender bring to light two important but often overlooked sets of decision attributes related to decision-making [ 38].
These results shed light on decision attributes that influence patient CHC treatment decisions and reveal complex relationships between medical attributes and life circumstance attributes in these decisions.
His decision to stay in the match was attributed by some to another phone call from Kissinger and a deluge of cablegrams to Fischer.
Results were synthesized by comparing and contrasting coded segments of top decision attribute themes overall, by group, and by gender.
