Integrating PROMIS Measures in a Treat to Target (T2T) Approach to Standardize Patient-Centered Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact 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 PROMIS measures for depression, fatigue, pain interference, physical function, and social function into RA care. Study participants selected one 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, compared to those with unchanged or worsened CDAI. Satisfaction with care was assessed using multiple measures, including the FACIT Treatment Satisfaction - Patient Satisfaction Scale.

RESULTS

The analytic 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 five 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.