Routine Collection of Patient-Reported Outcomes in an HIV Clinic Setting:The First 100 Patients

Background: Information from patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can enhance patient-provider communication and facilitate clinical research. However, there are barriers to collecting PROs within a clinic. Recent technological advances may help overcome these barriers. We examined the feasibility of using a web-based application on tablet PCs with touch screens to collect PROs in a busy, multi-provider, outpatient HIV clinical care setting. Methods: Patients presenting for routine care were asked to complete a touch-screen-based assessment containing 62 to 111 items depending on patient responses. The assessment included instruments measuring body morphology abnormalities, depression, symptom burden, medication adherence, drug/alcohol/tobacco use, and health-related quality of life Results: Of 136 patients approached to participate in the study, 106 patients (78%) completed the assessment, 6 (4%) started but did not complete it, and 24 (18%) refused. Of those who completed the assessment, the mean age was 48 years, and 29% reported a history of injection drug use. The median time to complete the assessment was 12 minutes. The prevalence of lipoatrophy was 51%, the prevalence of lipohypertrophy was 69%, and the prevalence of moderate or severe depression was 51%. We found that 25% of those receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy noted missing a dose of their antiretroviral medications in the prior 4 days. Results: Of 136 patients approached to participate in the study, 106 patients (78%) completed the assessment, 6 (4%) started but did not complete it, and 24 (18%) refused. Of those who completed the assessment, the mean age was 48 years, and 29% reported a history of injection drug use. The median time to complete the assessment was 12 minutes. The prevalence of lipoatrophy was 51%, the prevalence of lipohypertrophy was 69%, and the prevalence of moderate or severe depression was 51%. We found that 25% of those receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy noted missing a dose of their antiretroviral medications in the prior 4 days.