Janine Topp, Matthias Augustin, Kathrin von Usslar, Ramona Gosau, Kristian Reich, Michael Reusch, Christine Blome
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3063

This study investigated the validity and feasibility of the Patient Benefit Index 2.0 (PBI 2.0), a short instrument to assess patient-relevant treatment benefit. In a cross-sectional study, patients with skin diseases completed the PBI 2.0 alongside instruments on quality of life and disease-specific PBI long versions to assess convergent validity. Feasibility questions appraise comprehensibility, completeness, length, and readability. Data from a longitudinal study were used to explore responsiveness and test-retest reliability. Most patients rated the PBI 2.0 easy to understand, complete, legible, and not too long. The amount of missing values was overall low. In all groups, except for vitiligo, correlation analyses indicated good convergent validity of PBI 2.0. Responsiveness of the PBI 2.0 could not be clearly confirmed. Retest-reliability achieved satisfactory results. Thus, the PBI 2.0 may be a suitable instrument for its use in different skin diseases. Its broad applicability allows for comparisons across diagnosis groups.

Considering the patients’ perspective in clinical decision-making is a major goal in healthcare. To assess the patient perspective, valid and reliable instruments on individual needs and treatment benefits are needed. In the dermatological setting, the Patient Benefit Index (PBI) can be used to evaluate patient-relevant treatment benefit. This study analyses and confirms the reliability, feasibility and validity of a short version of the PBI, the PBI 2.0, which is applicable for patients with different skin diseases. The brevity of the instrument may foster its implementation in clinical practice.