Assessment of Treatment Satisfaction in Psoriasis

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Treatments for plaque psoriasis vary substantially in effectiveness and side effects. It is often difficult to
determine the optimal treatment during a patient-centric, shared decision-making process between the
clinician and patient. The NIH and other stakeholders consider patient-reported outcomes (PROs) crucial for
the support of patient-centered care because PROs reflect the patients’ perspective and offer important
information to improve clinical decision-making and care delivery.
Treatment satisfaction is a key PRO that represents the patient’s experience with the process and outcome
of the treatment. Patient satisfaction with their treatment is critical because it affects patients’ treatment-
related behaviors, such as the likelihood of continuing to use their medication, to use the medication
correctly, and to adhere to prescribed treatment regimens. These treatment-related behaviors, in turn,
substantially impact the success of treatment outcomes.
The overarching goal of this study is to validate a patient-reported, dermatology-specific treatment
satisfaction instrument (DermSat). In this study, we plan to achieve two aims. In Aim 1, we will validate
DermSat for longitudinal assessment of patient satisfaction with psoriasis treatments during stable psoriasis
and flares. We will also determine if DermSat will confer good reliability. We will study this aim in a
prospective, observational cohort and recruit from a diverse psoriasis patient population in southern
California.
In Aim 2, we will determine whether DermSat predicts medication adherence and treatment changes.
Specifically, we will evaluate the predictive validity of DermSat by examining the relationship between
DermSat and subsequent assessment of adherence and treatment changes. A measure with excellent
predictive validity will enable clinicians to identify treatment dissatisfaction and intervene earlier to minimize
the long-term impact of psoriasis.
The successful completion of this research will lead to the first valid and reliable dermatology-specific
treatment satisfaction instrument. The study findings will have a marked impact on future clinical trial
design. DermSat will address the critical need to capture patients’ treatment experience in studies for both
approved and investigative dermatological therapies. Valid assessment of patients’ treatment satisfaction
will also help inform shared decision-making between clinicians and patients in clinical practice, predict
treatment adherence, and improve the likelihood of long-term treatment success.

Grant Number: 5R01AR081226-03
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: April Armstrong