Development of a tool to measure patient-oriented outcomes for Veterans with inflammatory arthritis initiating self-administered biologic therapies
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Veterans Health Administration Centralized Specialty Medication Management (CSMM) clinics have positive financial and process outcomes but lack patient-oriented outcomes. This project developed a tool to evaluate patient-oriented outcomes among Veterans with inflammatory arthritis and/or psoriasis initiating biologic therapies. Methods: Using validated questionnaires, a tool was constructed and piloted. Four rounds of cognitive interviews, with 2 Veterans each, were conducted. Pre- and post-CSMM clinic cognitive interviews were conducted with 2 Veterans initiating biologic therapy. The tool was piloted with patients initiating biologic therapy. Results: The post-CSMM survey began with 55 questions. There was 1 pilot interview for readability, 8 cognitive interviews over 4 tool versions, and 2 pre- post-CSMM survey cognitive interviews; 18 questions were revised, 9 removed, and 7 added. No problematic questions were identified during the final cognitive interviews. In pre- post-CSMM cognitive interviews, no problematic questions were identified and both Veterans endorsed connection of the pre- and post-questions. The final post-CSMM survey had 53 questions and the pre-CSMM survey had 31 questions. In the pilot, the pre- and post-CSMM survey was administered to 23 Veterans. Between interviews 34 days and 1.7 CSMM appointments elapsed. Time to complete the pre-CSMM survey and post-CSMM survey was 21 and 26 min, respectively. There were no difficult or confusing questions identified in the pilot. Conclusion: This project created a pre- and post-CSMM tool with high content validity to measure patient-oriented outcomes among Veterans with inflammatory arthritis and/or psoriasis initiating biologic therapy. Feasibility in conducting pre- and post-CSMM interviews using the tool was established.
Language: English
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,140
Funders: Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, National Institutes of Health, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Awards: G1361533396, G7237929785, G9000855447
OpenAlex ID: W7218897512