Optimising HIV care using information obtained from PROMs: protocol for an observational study.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Medicine
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Antiviral therapy has shifted HIV infection to a chronic condition, emphasizing the need to optimize quality of life (QoL) for individuals living with HIV (PWH).
• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are crucial tools for identifying physical and mental health issues impacting QoL in PWH.
• Integrating PROMs into routine clinical care is a potential strategy to enhance the patient experience and overall quality of care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the implementation of PROMs in routine clinical care improves the quality of care as experienced by people with HIV (PWH).
• To assess the impact of a structured PROM intervention on patient-experienced quality of care over a two-year period.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre longitudinal cohort study protocol involving PWH at Amsterdam University Medical Centres.
• Annual administration of PROMs covering domains such as mental health, physical functioning, social isolation, and adherence via an electronic health record patient portal.
• Intervention includes PROM completion, discussion of scores during consultations, and documentation of follow-up actions, with quality of care measured by the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care, Short Form (PACIC-S).

Main Results:

• Data collection is ongoing, with measurements at baseline, year 1, and year 2.
• Analysis will explore changes in PACIC-S and PROM scores over time.
• Subgroup analysis will examine participation across sociodemographical and HIV-specific characteristics to ensure equitable benefit.

Conclusions:

• The study protocol is established for evaluating the impact of PROMs on quality of care for PWH.
• Findings will inform the integration of PROMs into routine HIV care to improve patient-centered outcomes.
• Results will be disseminated through academic meetings and peer-reviewed publications.