Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Mar 1;72(3):288-294.
doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000068. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Computerized Conjoint Analysis of the Weight Treatment Preferences of Individuals With Schizophrenia

Nichole Goodsmith  1 , Amy N Cohen  1 , Anthony W P Flynn  1 , Alison B Hamilton  1 , Gerhard Hellemann  1 , Nancy Nowlin-Finch  1 , Alexander S Young  1
Affiliations

Computerized Conjoint Analysis of the Weight Treatment Preferences of Individuals With Schizophrenia

Nichole Goodsmith et al. Psychiatr Serv. .

Abstract

Objective: Innovative approaches are needed for assessing treatment preferences of individuals with schizophrenia. Conjoint analysis methods may help to identify preferences, but the usability and validity of these methods for individuals with schizophrenia remain unclear. This study examined computerized conjoint analysis for persons with schizophrenia and whether preferences for weight management programs predict service use.

Methods: A computerized, patient-facing conjoint analysis system was developed through iterative consultation with 35 individuals with schizophrenia enrolled at a community mental health clinic. An additional 35 overweight participants with schizophrenia then used the system to choose among psychosocial weight management programs varying in four attributes: location (community or clinic), delivery mode (Internet or in person), leader (clinician or layperson), and training mode (individual or group). A multilevel logit model with partial preference data determined contributions of each attribute to groupwide preferences. Associations were studied between preferences and use of a psychosocial weight management group.

Results: Conjoint analysis system usability was rated highly. Groupwide preferences were significantly influenced by location (p<0.001; clinic was preferred), leader (p=0.02; clinician was preferred), and training mode (p<0.001; group was preferred) but not delivery mode (p=0.68). Preferences did not correlate with age, gender, body mass index, illness severity, or subsequent program use. Participants described barriers to program attendance, including transportation, scheduling, privacy, psychiatric illness, and lack of motivation.

Conclusions: Computerized conjoint analysis can produce valid assessments of treatment preferences of persons with schizophrenia and inform treatment development and implementation. Although preferences may affect treatment use, they are one of multiple factors.

Keywords: Conjoint analysis; Health informatics; Mental illness; Patient preferences; Schizophrenia; Weight management.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Relationship between individual preferences and weight management group attendance
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Institute of Medicine Committee on Quality of Health Care in America: Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Washington, DC, National Academies Press, 2001
    1. Wagner EH, Bennett SM, Austin BT, et al.: Finding common ground: patient-centeredness and evidence-based chronic illness care. J Altern Complement Med 11 Suppl 1: S7–15, 2005 - PubMed
    1. Institute of Medicine Committee on Crossing the Quality Chasm: Adaptation to Mental Health and Addictive Disorders: Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions: Quality Chasm Series. Washington, DC, National Academies Press, 2006 - PubMed
    1. O’Neal EL, Adams JR, McHugo GJ, et al.: Preferences of older and younger adults with serious mental illness for involvement in decision-making in medical and psychiatric settings. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 16: 826–833, 2008 - PubMed
    1. Hill SA, Laugharne R: Decision making and information seeking preferences among psychiatric patients. J Ment Health 15: 75–84, 2006

Publication types