title: Detecting changes in patient treatment satisfaction with medicines: the SATMED-Q.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Treatment Satisfaction with Medicines Questionnaire (SATMED-Q) has shown appropriate psychometric properties exploring patients' satisfaction with treatment. Responsiveness (sensitivity to change) and known-group validity, however, still remained unknown. Thus, the goal of this study was to explore such psychometric properties for the SATMED-Q.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from a 6-month prospective study carried out in pain clinics, which included patients with chronic refractory pain of neuropathic origin who needed a change in their therapies. Sensitivity to change was assessed by comparing changes in the total and domain scores between baseline and end-of-trial visits according to patients' response criterion: pain reduction 50% or more (responder). Also, correlations between changes in pain intensity and satisfaction scores were computed. Known-groups validity was explored by comparing the degree of satisfaction between groups of different levels of pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was formed with 728 subjects (57.8 years, 61.0% women). After changing their therapy, 47% of the patients were considered responders, and pain intensity was reduced by an average of 42.9%±32.4% (P<0.001), which was significantly correlated (r =-0.524, P<0.001) with total treatment satisfaction improvement. The total score in the SATMED-Q was significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders: 80.9 (79.6-82.3) versus 66.5 (65.0-98.0) (P<0.001). Also, the instrument showed different scores of satisfaction according to different degrees of pain (mild, moderate, severe), F = 116.8 (P<0.001) in the total composite score and domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SATMED-Q was sensitive to changes in patients' satisfaction with treatment. In addition, patients' different heath statuses are correlated with different levels of satisfaction with treatment.
authors: Health Economics and Outcomes Research Department, Pfizer, S.L.U., Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain. javier.rejas@pfizer.com
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Rejas
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Ruiz
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Pardo
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Soto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics