When patient beliefs, values, preferences are cited, they are not usually supported by evidence
THURSDAY, April 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Less than 40 percent of osteoporosis clinical practice guidelines include any mention of patients’ beliefs, values, or preferences (BVPs), according to a study published online March 11 in Osteoporosis International.
Joanna E.M. Sale, Ph.D., from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, and colleagues examined English-language international osteoporosis guidelines to identify instances of statements pertaining to BVPs, which were then categorized.
The researchers found that 27 of 70 guidelines (39 percent) included a total of 95 statements about patient BVPs. Thirty-two of these statements (derived from 14 guidelines) were classified under BVP related to the choice of pharmacotherapy or general treatment, 10 statements (from seven guidelines) were classified under BVP related to adherence to pharmacotherapy or treatment in general, five statements (from five guidelines) were classified under BVP related to financial costs and benefits, 43 statements (from 19 guidelines) were classified under other BVP mentioned but not supported by a reference to a primary study or systematic review, and five statements (from three guidelines) were classified under other BVP mentioned and were supported by at least one reference to a primary study or systematic review. A total of 29 references were cited to reflect the mentioned BVPs, including an editorial and quantitative studies.
“We suggest that qualitative data be included as evidence of BVPs in guidelines,” the authors write.
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