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Introduction: After a chickenpox infection, the varicella zoster virus lies dormant in nerve cells and can be reactivated in later life to cause herpes zoster (HZ), also called shingles, a painful rash that may result in persistent postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Treatment options are limited, and HZ/PHN may have substantial negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This qualitative cross-sectional study explored the subjective patient experience and impact on HRQoL of HZ and PHN in adults aged C 50 years in Canada. Methods: Patients were eligible for the study if they were aged at least 50 years and had been diagnosed with HZ by a healthcare practitioner 7-60 days earlier for HZ patients and 90--365 days earlier for PHN patients. Eligible patients were invited to participate in concept elicitation interviews by telephone. Data from the interviews were transcribed and analyzed to identify key concepts related to symptoms and impacts on the patients' lives. Results: A total of 32 patients participated, with a mean age of 61 years. Most (72%) were female. The most common symptoms reported were rash (n = 32), pain (n = 31), fatigue (n = 26), and itchiness (n = 20). The most commonly reported HRQoL domains affected were emotional functioning (n = 31), activities of daily living (n = 31), sleep (n = 29), physical functioning (n = 25) and hobbies (n = 21). A conceptual model was developed to summarize these symptoms and impacts. Conclusion: HZ negatively affected many dimensions of patients' HRQoL, particularly during the acute phase of illness. This qualitative study helps to broaden understanding of the subjective patient experience of HZ.

Background Long-term treatment adherence is a worldwide concern, with nonadherence resulting from a complex interplay of behaviors and health beliefs. Determining an individual’s risk of nonadherence and identifying the drivers of that risk are crucial for the development of successful interventions for improving adherence. Here, we describe the development of a new tool assessing a comprehensive set of characteristics predictive of patients’ treatment adherence based on the Social, Psychological, Usage and Rational (SPUR) adherence framework. Concepts from existing self-reporting tools of adherence-related behaviors were identified following a targeted MEDLINE literature review and a subset of these concepts were then selected for inclusion in the new tool. SPUR tool items, simultaneously generated in US English and in French, were tested iteratively through two rounds of cognitive interviews with US and French patients taking long-term treatments for chronic diseases. The pilot SPUR tool, resulting from the qualitative analysis of patients’ responses, was then adapted to other cultural settings (China and the UK) and subjected to further rounds of cognitive testing. Results The literature review identified 27 relevant instruments, from which 49 concepts were included in the SPUR tool (Social: 6, Psychological: 13, Usage: 11, Rational: 19). Feedback from US and French patients suffering from diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or breast cancer (n = 14 for the first round; n = 16 for the second round) indicated that the SPUR tool was well accepted and consistently understood. Minor modifications were implemented, resulting in the retention of 45 items (Social: 5, Psychological: 14, Usage: 10, Rational: 16). Results from the cognitive interviews conducted in China (15 patients per round suffering from diabetes, breast cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and the UK (15 patients suffering from diabetes) confirmed the validity of the tool content, with no notable differences being identified across countries or chronic conditions. Conclusion Our qualitative analyses indicated that the pilot SPUR tool is a promising model that may help clinicians and health systems to predict patient treatment behavior. Further steps using quantitative methods are needed to confirm its predictive validity and other psychometric properties.

155 Background: Outcomes remain poor in triple-class exposed (to an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 antibody) patients (pts) with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), and there is no standard of care. Ide-cel, a BCMA-directed CAR T cell therapy, showed deep, durable responses in heavily pretreated RRMM pts in the pivotal phase 2 KarMMa trial ( J Clin Oncol 38:2020. Suppl; abstr 8503). Limited data are available on pts’ experience with prior therapies and expectations on ide-cel. By embedding pt interviews in KarMMa, we assessed pts’ initial knowledge of and expectations on ide-cel beyond pt-reported outcome measures prior to ide-cel therapy. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in triple-class exposed pts refractory to their last regimen who entered the KarMMa trial (NCT03361748). Pts were invited to participate in the optional interview component that included up to 11 interviews. We present results of the first interviews that occurred between initial consent and leukapheresis. The interview topics were pts’ initial knowledge of ide-cel, decision making, expectations, hopes, and concerns, and current well-being. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Results: Forty-seven pts from 14 clinical sites participated in the interviews. Most pts were able to describe the overall process of CAR T cell therapy and one third first heard about the therapy from their local healthcare professionals. According to patients, key decision-making factors were potential outcomes with ide-cel, recommendation from a doctor, and lack of other options. The most frequently perceived differences between ide-cel and prior treatments are shown (Table). Pt hopes were mostly focused on remission and improved quality of life. Most pts reported some restrictions on their daily activities due to the disease. Conclusions: RRMM pts need new treatment options. Most pts reported the limitations of prior therapies, expectations on ide-cel, impact of the disease, and differentiated ide-cel from other treatments. The ongoing interviews will further assess pt experience during and after ide-cel therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT03361748 . [Table: see text]