Publications

BACKGROUND

Studies of the retreatment with consensus interferon (CIFN) and ribavirin (RBV) of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients who failed prior pegylated interferon alfa/ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) have found quite variable efficacy and tolerability of this therapy. As such, CIFN/RBV use and efficacy in clinical practice were evaluated within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest national, integrated system for HCV care.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to determine rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) and patterns of CIFN/RBV use in the VA. Methods included retrospective review of national VA data in HCV-infected patients who had previously failed≥12 weeks of PEG-IFN/RBV and were prescribed CIFN/RBV between October 1, 2003 and September 30, 2006.

RESULTS

A total of 597 patients met the study criteria. CIFN was primarily dosed as 15 mcg subcutaneously daily combined with standard doses of RBV. Mean treatment duration was 21 weeks; CIFN was discontinued within 4 weeks in 24%. Hematological growth factors were used in 49%. Post-treatment viral loads were available in 385 patients. SVR to CIFN/RBV was achieved in 11%, and was significantly higher in prior PEG-IFN/RBV relapsers compared with nonresponders (31% vs. 6%, respectively; P<0.0001). A 2-log10 or greater drop in HCV RNA after 24 weeks of PEG-IFN/RBV was a predictor of subsequent SVR to CIFN/RBV.

CONCLUSIONS

CIFN/RBV was used frequently in clinical practice for retreatment of PEG-IFN/RBV. In this setting, early treatment discontinuation was common. Overall SVR was low, although response was significantly better in prior PEG-IFN/RBV relapsers and those who had a 2-log(10) or greater decline than in nonresponders.

This study presents a measure of work motivation designed to assess the motivational concepts of the meta-theory of motivation. These concepts include intrinsic process motivation, goal internalization motivation, instrumental motivation, external self-concept motivation, and internal self-concept motivation. Following a process of statement development and identification, six statements for each concept were presented to a sample of working professionals (N = 330) via a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Parallel analysis supported a 5-factor solution, with a varimax rotation identifying 5 factors accounting for 48.9% of total variance. All 5 scales had Cronbach alpha coefficients above .70. Limitations of the newly proposed questionnaire and suggestions for its further development and use are discussed.

BACKGROUND

Medicare established the Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI, recently renamed the Physicians Quality Reporting System) to increase reporting of quality metrics and promote healthcare quality.

OBJECTIVE

To identify characteristics of PQRI participants and examine their beliefs about its impact.

DESIGN

National survey of 4934 U.S. physicians, conducted June through October 2009.

SETTING

All practice settings.

PARTICIPANTS

Randomly selected physicians categorized as primary care, medical specialists, surgeons, other specialists.

MEASUREMENTS

Beliefs about impact of PQRI reporting on quality.

RESULTS

The response rate was 49.8%. There were no significant differences between respondents and non-respondents by age, gender, specialty, and region. Thirty-eight percent participated in the PQRI, and were more likely than non-participants to be practice owners (69.0% vs. 57.1%, p<.0001) and to receive performance bonuses through their employer or practice (50.4% vs. 37.0%, p<.0001). Half of PQRI participants believed it had no impact on quality. Medical specialists (57.0%) and surgeons (55.1%) were more likely than primary care (40.4%) and other physicians (45.7%) to say that PQRI has no impact on quality (p=.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Most PQRI participants believed it had little if any impact on quality. Medicare should identify the reasons behind physicians' negative views while it works to expand the Physicians Quality Reporting System.