Development of a chronic Hep C virus treatment satisfaction instrument

Published ahead of print in the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, a study reports on the development and validation of the chronic hepatitis C virus treatment satisfaction instrument.

While current medications used to treat patients with chronic Hepatitis C virus effectively produce sustained viral response, postponement of therapy is oftentimes attributed to patient perceptions of unfavorable outcomes.

However, an instrument to assess patient perceptions of therapy has not been developed.

Dr Szeinbach and colleagues from Minnesota, USA describe the development and validation the chronic Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Satisfaction (HCVSat) instrument.

Focus groups, expert review and cognitive debriefing were used to develop a draft 37-item instrument.

The research team administered a preliminary instrument to a pre-test sample of 145 patients.

A refined Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Satisfaction was administered to a main sample of 333 participants with a chronic Hepatitis C virus diagnosis through Harris Interactive.

The Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Satisfaction was completed by 333 participants with an average age of 51 years, of which 55% were male, with current or previous HCV treatment experience, and had a diagnosis of Hepatitis C virus for approximately 12 years.

The 10-item HCVSat demonstrated valid psychometric properties

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

The doctors report that 12 items for the 3 dimensions, including Treatment Experience, Side Effects and Social Aspects, were internally consistent, responsive and valid.

Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a better fit with 9 items.

The team of researchers observed that all path coefficients were significant.

Side Effects and Social Aspects were strong predictors of , while Treatment Experience was positively associated with the 1-item global measure of TS.

Szeinbach concludes "The 10-item Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Satisfaction demonstrated valid psychometric properties and assessed patient satisfaction with HCV therapies."

"However, additional studies are needed to validate the Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Satisfaction in conjunction with sustained viral response and in patients in underrepresented populations."