1842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Men with prostate cancer are often challenged to choose between conservative management and a range of available treatment options each carrying varying risks and benefits. The trade-offs are between an improved life-expectancy with...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Meghani Salimah, Lee Christopher, Hanlon Alexandra, Bruner Deborah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2009-01-01
Series:BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6947/9/47
_version_ 1811299499819139072
author Meghani Salimah
Lee Christopher
Hanlon Alexandra
Bruner Deborah
author_facet Meghani Salimah
Lee Christopher
Hanlon Alexandra
Bruner Deborah
author_sort Meghani Salimah
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Men with prostate cancer are often challenged to choose between conservative management and a range of available treatment options each carrying varying risks and benefits. The trade-offs are between an improved life-expectancy with treatment accompanied by important risks such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Previous studies of preference elicitation for prostate cancer treatment have found considerable heterogeneity in individuals' preferences for health states given similar treatments and clinical risks.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using latent class mixture model (LCA), we first sought to understand if there are unique patterns of heterogeneity or subgroups of individuals based on their prostate cancer treatment utilities (calculated time trade-off utilities for various health states) and if such unique subgroups exist, what demographic and urological variables may predict membership in these subgroups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The sample (N = 244) included men with prostate cancer (n = 188) and men at-risk for disease (n = 56). The sample was predominantly white (77%), with mean age of 60 years (SD &#177; 9.5). Most (85.9%) were married or living with a significant other. Using LCA, a three class solution yielded the best model evidenced by the smallest Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), substantial reduction in BIC from a 2-class solution, and Lo-Mendell-Rubin significance of &lt; .001. The three identified clusters were named <it>high-traders (n = 31)</it>, <it>low-traders (n = 116)</it>, and <it>no-traders (n = 97)</it>. <it>High-traders </it>were more likely to trade survival time associated with treatment to avoid potential risks of treatment. <it>Low-traders were </it>less likely to trade survival time and accepted risks of treatment. The <it>no-traders </it>were likely to make no trade-offs in any direction favouring the status quo. There was significant difference among the clusters in the importance of sexual activity (Pearson's &#967;<sup>2 </sup>= 16.55, <it>P </it>= 0.002; Goodman and Kruskal tau = 0.039, <it>P </it>&lt; 0.001). In multinomial logistic regression, the level of importance assigned to sexual activity remained an independent predictor of class membership. Age and prostate cancer/at-risk status were not significant factors in the multinomial model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most existing utility work is undertaken focusing on how people choose <it>on average</it>. Distinct clusters of prostate cancer treatment utilities in our sample point to the need for further understanding of subgroups and need for tailored assessment and interventions.</p>
first_indexed 2024-04-13T06:36:46Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a8552e33af6b480da00d71588a8e2b65
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1472-6947
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T06:36:46Z
publishDate 2009-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
spelling doaj.art-a8552e33af6b480da00d71588a8e2b652022-12-22T02:57:54ZengBMCBMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making1472-69472009-01-0191471842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilitiesMeghani SalimahLee ChristopherHanlon AlexandraBruner Deborah<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Men with prostate cancer are often challenged to choose between conservative management and a range of available treatment options each carrying varying risks and benefits. The trade-offs are between an improved life-expectancy with treatment accompanied by important risks such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Previous studies of preference elicitation for prostate cancer treatment have found considerable heterogeneity in individuals' preferences for health states given similar treatments and clinical risks.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using latent class mixture model (LCA), we first sought to understand if there are unique patterns of heterogeneity or subgroups of individuals based on their prostate cancer treatment utilities (calculated time trade-off utilities for various health states) and if such unique subgroups exist, what demographic and urological variables may predict membership in these subgroups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The sample (N = 244) included men with prostate cancer (n = 188) and men at-risk for disease (n = 56). The sample was predominantly white (77%), with mean age of 60 years (SD &#177; 9.5). Most (85.9%) were married or living with a significant other. Using LCA, a three class solution yielded the best model evidenced by the smallest Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), substantial reduction in BIC from a 2-class solution, and Lo-Mendell-Rubin significance of &lt; .001. The three identified clusters were named <it>high-traders (n = 31)</it>, <it>low-traders (n = 116)</it>, and <it>no-traders (n = 97)</it>. <it>High-traders </it>were more likely to trade survival time associated with treatment to avoid potential risks of treatment. <it>Low-traders were </it>less likely to trade survival time and accepted risks of treatment. The <it>no-traders </it>were likely to make no trade-offs in any direction favouring the status quo. There was significant difference among the clusters in the importance of sexual activity (Pearson's &#967;<sup>2 </sup>= 16.55, <it>P </it>= 0.002; Goodman and Kruskal tau = 0.039, <it>P </it>&lt; 0.001). In multinomial logistic regression, the level of importance assigned to sexual activity remained an independent predictor of class membership. Age and prostate cancer/at-risk status were not significant factors in the multinomial model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most existing utility work is undertaken focusing on how people choose <it>on average</it>. Distinct clusters of prostate cancer treatment utilities in our sample point to the need for further understanding of subgroups and need for tailored assessment and interventions.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6947/9/47
spellingShingle Meghani Salimah
Lee Christopher
Hanlon Alexandra
Bruner Deborah
1842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
title 1842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities
title_full 1842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities
title_fullStr 1842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities
title_full_unstemmed 1842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities
title_short 1842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities
title_sort 1842676957299765latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6947/9/47
work_keys_str_mv AT meghanisalimah 1842676957299765latentclassclusteranalysistounderstandheterogeneityinprostatecancertreatmentutilities
AT leechristopher 1842676957299765latentclassclusteranalysistounderstandheterogeneityinprostatecancertreatmentutilities
AT hanlonalexandra 1842676957299765latentclassclusteranalysistounderstandheterogeneityinprostatecancertreatmentutilities
AT brunerdeborah 1842676957299765latentclassclusteranalysistounderstandheterogeneityinprostatecancertreatmentutilities