Wright, Andrea, Gildea, Edwina, Longstaff, Louise, Riley, Danielle, Nagda, Nirav, DiPietrantonio, Kristina, Enstone, Ashley, Wyn, Robin, and Bartram, David
Simple Summary: This research examined UK cat owners' preferences for treatments for feline osteoarthritis, including preferences for quality of life improvements, safety considerations, and costs associated with hypothetical new pain therapies. Aspects of quality of life from previous research were extracted and included in exploratory interviews with cat owners (n = 3) to identify the key domains that contribute to the quality of life of cats. Descriptions of the quality of life of cats with osteoarthritis and hypothetical product characteristics were developed and validated through interviews with veterinarians (n = 3). An online survey was subsequently shared with 255 pet owners in the UK. Pet owners were presented with quality of life descriptions and hypothetical product characteristics to gather their preferences for quality of life improvements and their willingness to pay for (unbranded) pain therapies at various levels of price. Pet owners were motivated to improve their cats' quality of life, which translated into a willingness to pay for therapies; specifically, pet owners valued quality of life improvements in mobility, pain expression, and well-being. When presented with a product profile of the hypothetical new injection treatment and its cost, 50% of cat owners were willing to pay more for the new injection treatment, which is expected to have improved efficacy and safety when compared to a hypothetical standard treatment. Significantly more pet owners also preferred the new injection treatment to the standard treatment when the price was not presented (p < 0.01), with product efficacy and safety driving pet owners' decision-making. The majority of pet owners did not agree that taking their cats to the veterinarian once a month for treatment would be burdensome. Cat owners in the UK are motivated to improve their cats' quality of life, which translates into a willingness to pay for effective treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis. Veterinarians should offer cat owners the pain treatment they feel is best suited for improving the cats' quality of life and ensuring the relationship between cat and owner is preserved. This research aimed to explore UK cat owners' preferences for treatments for feline osteoarthritis (OA) by exploring preferences around quality of life (QoL) improvements, safety considerations, and costs associated with hypothetical innovative pain therapies. Aspects identified in an existing conceptual framework were extracted for inclusion in exploratory interviews with cat owners (n = 3) to identify key domains that contribute to the QoL of cats. QoL descriptions for cats with OA and hypothetical product attributes were developed and validated through interviews with veterinarians (n = 3). An online survey was subsequently shared with 255 pet owners in the UK. Pet owners were presented with QoL descriptions and hypothetical product attributes to gather their preferences for QoL improvements and their willingness to pay (WTP) for (unbranded) pain therapies at various price points. Pet owners were motivated to improve their cats' QoL, which translated into WTP for therapies; specifically, pet owners valued QoL improvements in mobility, pain expression, and well-being. When presented with a product profile of the hypothetical novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) and cost, 50% of cat owners were willing to pay more for a mAb that is expected to have improved efficacy and safety when compared to a hypothetical standard of care (SoC). Significantly more pet owners preferred the mAb than the SoC when price was not presented (p < 0.01), with product efficacy and safety driving pet owners' decision-making. The majority of pet owners did not agree that taking their cats to the veterinarian once a month for their treatment would be burdensome. Cat owners in the UK are motivated to improve their cats' QoL, which translates into WTP for the efficacious treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis. Veterinarians should offer cat owners the pain treatment they feel is best suited for improving the cat's QoL and to ensure subsequent owner-pet bond is preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]