Predictive Criterion Validity of the Parsley Symptom Index Against the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-10 in a Chronic Disease Cohort: Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 60% of US adults live with chronic disease, imposing a significant burden on patients and the health care system. With the rise of telehealth, patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) have emerged as pivotal tools for managing chronic disease. While numerous PROMs exist, few have been designed explicitly for telehealth settings. The Parsley Symptom Index (PSI) is an electronic patient-reported outcome measure (ePROM) developed specifically for telehealth environments. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to determine whether the PSI predicts changes in the established Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-10 (PROMIS-10) Global Health, a 10-question short form. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from 367 unique patients, amassing 1170 observations between August 30, 2017, and January 30, 2023. Patients completed the PSI and the PROMIS-10 multiple times throughout the study period. Using univariate regression models, we assess the predictive criterion validity of the PSI against PROMIS-10 scores. RESULTS: This study revealed significant relationships between the PSI and PROMIS-10 physical and mental health scores through comprehensive univariate analyses, thus establishing support for the criterion validity of the PSI. These analyses highlighted the PSI's potential as an insightful tool for understanding and predicting both mental and physical health dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize the importance of the PSI in capturing the nuanced interactions between symptomatology and health outcomes. These insights reinforce the value of the PSI in clinical contexts and support its potential as a versatile tool in both research and practice.

Parsley Health: Feasibility and acceptability of a large-scale holistic telehealth program for chronic disease care.

Background: A holistic, personalized approach to medicine can be used to prevent and manage a variety of chronic diseases. However, effectively managing chronic diseases can be difficult due to barriers related to insufficient provider time, staffing, and lack of patient engagement. To address these challenges telehealth strategies are being increasingly adopted, yet few studies have explored how to evaluate the feasibility and implementation success of large-scale holistic telehealth models for chronic disease care. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a large-scale holistic telehealth program for the management of chronic diseases. Our study findings can inform the future development and assessment of chronic disease programs delivered through telehealth strategies. Methods: Data was collected from participants enrolled in a Parsley Health membership from June 1, 2021 to June 1, 2022, a subscription-based holistic medicine practice designed to help people prevent or manage chronic diseases. Implementation outcome frameworks were used to understand engagement with services, participant satisfaction, and preliminary effectiveness of the program via a patient-reported symptom severity tool. Results: Data from 10,205 participants with a range of chronic diseases were included in our analysis. Participants averaged 4.8 visits with their clinical team and reported high levels of satisfaction with their care (average NPS score of 81.35%). Preliminary evidence also showed substantial reduction in patient reported symptom severity. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the Parsley Health program is a feasible and acceptable large-scale holistic telehealth program for chronic disease care. Successful implementation was due, in part, to services that promoted participant engagement along with tools and interfaces that were helpful and easy to use. These findings can be used to develop future holistic-focused telehealth programs for the management and prevention of chronic diseases.

Validity of the Parsley Symptom Index-an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes Measure Designed for Telehealth: Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Electronic patient-reported outcomes measures (e-PROMs) are a valuable tool for the monitoring and management of chronic conditions over time. However, there are few validated tools available that capture symptoms across body systems in telehealth settings. The Parsley Symptom Index (PSI) is a recently developed symptom assessment for adults with chronic disease in telehealth settings. A previous study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the PSI in a clinical telehealth setting. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess convergent validity between the PSI and the self-rated health (SRH) item. METHODS: This prospective cohort study took place from January 15, 2021, to December 15, 2021, among a sample of 10,519 adult patients at Parsley Health, a subscription-based holistic medical practice. The PSI and the SRH were completed by patients via an online portal. The association between the PSI and SRH was assessed via polyserial and polychoric correlations, while weighted κ scores provided information related to agreement between the PSI and SRH. RESULTS: From 22,748 responses, there were moderate levels of association (polyserial r=0.51; polychoric r=0.52) and agreement (weighted κ=0.46) between the PSI and SRH. In total, 74.13% (n=16,865) of responses between the PSI and SRH were relatively congruent while 36.17% (n=8229) were literally congruent. CONCLUSIONS: The PSI demonstrates convergent validity with the SRH for adults with chronic disease in a telehealth setting. This finding further supports the validation of the PSI in a real-world clinical setting. Although it is conceptually similar to the 1-question SRH, the PSI is a 45-item PROM designed to capture quality of life and specific symptoms by body system. Future studies will compare the PSI to multi-item PROMs.

The Development of a Digital Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement for Adults With Chronic Disease (The Parsley Symptom Index): Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The monitoring and management of chronic illness has always been a challenge. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can be powerful tools for monitoring symptoms and guiding treatment of chronic diseases, but the available PROM tools are either too broad or too disease specific for the needs of a primary care practice focused on longitudinal care. OBJECTIVE: In this study we describe the development and preliminary validation of the Parsley Symptom Index (PSI). METHODS: This prospective cohort study took place from January 5, 2018, to June 05, 2020, among a sample of 4621 adult patients at Parsley Health. After a review of literature, followed by binning and winnowing of potential items, a 45-item PROM that also served as a review of systems (ROS) was developed. The PSI was deployed and completed by patients via an online portal. Construct and face validity was performed by clinicians, tested on patients, and feasibility was measured by response rate, completion rate, and percentage of missing data. RESULTS: The response rate for 12,175 collected PSIs was 93.72% (4331/4621) with a 100% item completion rate. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the model structure was satisfactory by a Comparative Fit Index of 0.943, Tucker-Lewis index of 0.938, and root mean square error of approximation of 0.028. CONCLUSIONS: A 45-item ROS-style PROM designed to capture chronic disease symptoms was developed, and preliminary validation suggests that the PSI can be deployed, completed, and helpful to both patients and clinicians.

Can a web-based curriculum improve students' knowledge of, and attitudes about, the interpreted medical interview?

OBJECTIVES: To develop and evaluate a web-based curriculum to introduce first year medical students to the knowledge and attitudes necessary for working with limited English proficient (LEP) patients through interpreters. METHOD: Six hundred and forty first year medical students over 4 consecutive years took this curriculum as part of their Patient Physician and Society course. They viewed 6 patient-physician-interpreter video vignettes, gave open text analyses of each vignette, and compared their responses to those generated by experts, thereby receiving immediate formative feedback. They listened to video commentaries by a cultural expert, lawyer, and ethicist about working with LEP patients, completed pre- and postmodule questionnaires, which tested relevant knowledge and attitudes, and were provided a summative assessment at the end of the module. Students completed an optional survey assessing the educational value of, and providing open text commentary about, the module. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent (n=456) of first year students who completed the module consented to have their data included in this evaluation. Mean knowledge (19 items) scores improved (46% pre- to 62% postmodule, P<.001), reflecting improvements in knowledge about best interpreter practices and immigration demographics and legal issues. Mean scores on 4 of 5 attitude items improved, reflecting attitudes more consistent with culturally sensitive care of LEP patients. Mean satisfaction with the educational value of the module for 155 students who completed the postmodule survey was 2.9 on a scale of 1 to 4. CONCLUSION: Our web-curriculum resulted in short-term improvement in the knowledge and attitudes necessary to interact with LEP patients and interpreters. The interactive format allowed students to receive immediate formative feedback and be cognizant of the challenges and effective strategies in language discordant medical encounters. This is important because studies suggest that the use of these skills in patient encounters leads to greater patient and provider satisfaction and improved health outcomes.