Integrating PROMIS Measures in a Treat-to-Target Approach to Standardize Patient-Centered Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a patient-centered rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treat-to-target (T2T) disease management approach on patient outcomes and patient satisfaction with care. METHODS: In this longitudinal, observational pilot study, rheumatologists implemented a modified T2T approach that integrated Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures for depression, fatigue, pain interference, physical function, and social function into RA care. Study participants selected 1 PROMIS domain to target treatment and completed quarterly follow-up assessments. Participants were classified as improved if their Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) changed by > 5 points. Change in PROMIS t scores was examined for the group with improved CDAI, and then compared to those with unchanged or worsened CDAI. Satisfaction with care was assessed using multiple measures, including the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Treatment Satisfaction-Patient Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: The analytical sample (n = 119, median age 57 years, 90.8% female) was split between those with CDAI > 10 (n = 63) and CDAI ≤ 10 (n = 53). At 1 year, there was improvement in CDAI by > 5 points in 66% and 13% of individuals with baseline CDAI > 10 and baseline CDAI ≤ 10, respectively. Across all participants, improvement in CDAI by > 5 points correlated with improvements in the 5 PROMIS domains. Satisfaction with RA treatment also increased. CONCLUSION: The integration of PROMIS measures into the T2T approach for RA care was associated with improvements in disease activity, and improvement in disease activity was associated with improvements in PROMIS measures.

Standardizing and personalizing the treat to target (T2T) approach for rheumatoid arthritis using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS): baseline findings on patient-centered treatment priorities.

A treat to target (T2T) approach to management has become the standard of care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While consensus T2T recommendations call for patient involvement in the treatment process, the targets commonly used to drive therapeutic decisions involve limited patient input. A pilot study was developed to explore whether the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) could add value to the T2T approach by providing a way to bring patient goals into the process. We report here the baseline data from this study. RA patients from an academic rheumatology practice were recruited to participate in this 1-year study. Patients were asked to complete PROMIS computer-assisted testing at quarterly visits during the year. At baseline, they were asked to identify the PROMIS domain (Pain Interference, Fatigue, Depression, Physical Function, and Social Function) that felt most important to their quality of life. They were then asked to select five representative items from this domain, to be followed through the year. Complete baseline data was available for 119 patients. Most selected Physical Function (39%) or Pain Interference (37%) as their highest priority PROMIS domain. Sixty percent ranked Depression as their lowest priority domain. Younger patients more frequently prioritized Social Function, while older patients more frequently prioritized Fatigue. The incorporation of PROMIS questionnaires into routine clinic visits is a feasible mechanism for incorporating patient preferences into a T2T approach to managing RA.