title: The patient benefit index: a novel approach in patient-defined outcomes measurement for skin diseases.
abstract: Evaluation of therapeutic benefits from the patient's perspective is important in medical decision-making and reimbursement. This study aimed at developing and validating an instrument on patient-defined needs and benefits in dermatology. The questionnaire was developed according to international guidelines. The benefit assessment consists of two steps: before treatment, every patient defines his treatment needs according to a standardized list. After treatment, the patient rates the degree of benefits achieved. A "patient benefit index" (PBI) is calculated by averaging the preference-weighed results of all items. The PBI questionnaire was validated in a sample of 500 patients with ten skin diseases and in a treatment study on 906 patients with acne. The patients defined a broad spectrum of needs and treatment benefits, indicating disease-specific patterns. The PBI showed good feasibility, reliability (Cronbach's alpha >0.91) and construct validity, high responsiveness, and discrimination between subgroups. The PBI permits valid evaluation of patient-relevant benefits in dermatological treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, German Center for Health Services Research in Dermatology (CVderm), University Clinics of Hamburg, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. m.augustin@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Radtke
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zschocke
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blome
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Behechtnejad
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reusch
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mielke
authors.forename: Stephan Jeff
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rustenbach