title: Patient benefit index (PBI) in the treatment of psoriasis--results of the National Care Study "PsoHealth".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis vulgaris is a common disease that follows a chronic course. So far, few studies have addressed outcome methods which evaluate the benefits of drugs and medical devices by measuring patient preferences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of patients' outcomes using the "Patient benefit index" (PBI), a validated goal attainment scaling tool, in the treatment of psoriasis. Data were obtained within an epidemiological study in 2,009 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and/or psoriatic arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in 133 nationwide German dermatological practices and hospital departments. The following were recorded a) in the doctors' questionnaire--previous treatments and diseases, clinical characteristics and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), b) in the patients' questionnaire--quality of life (LQ), patient-relevant therapeutic benefits and satisfaction with care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, patients achieved a total PBI of 2.5±1.1. 86.7% of patients showed a more than minimum benefit (PBI>1). Patients treated with biologicals had a higher benefit (mean PBI 3.0) than patients in other groups (e.g. PBI 2.6 in systemics).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PBI values indicate that systemic agents and biologics are of high therapeutic benefit to the vast majority of patients. The development of the PBI has enabled a decisive step to be taken in the area of scientifically-based outcome assessments.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP) University Medical Center, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. m.radtke@uke.de
authors.forename: Marc Alexander
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Radtke
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blome
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001691:Biological Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents
keywords: Patient Benefit Index; PsoHealth; care; outcome research; patient benefit; psoriasis; quality of life