Feasibility, reliability and validity of a questionnaire on healthcare consumption and productivity loss in patients with a psychiatric disorder (TiC-P)

Abstract

BackgroundPatient self-report allows collecting comprehensive data for the purpose of performing economic evaluations. The aim of the current study was to assess the feasibility, reliability and a part of the construct validity of a commonly applied questionnaire on healthcare utilization and productivity losses in patients with a psychiatric disorder (TiC-P).MethodsData were derived alongside two clinical trials performed in the Netherlands in patients with mental health problems. The response rate, average time of filling out the questionnaire and proportions of missing values were used as indicators of feasibility of the questionnaire. Test-retest analyses were performed including Cohen’s kappa and intra class correlation coefficients to assess reliability of the data. The construct validity was assessed by comparing patient reported data on contacts with psychotherapists and reported data on long-term absence from work with data derived from registries.ResultsThe response rate was 72%. The mean time needed for filling out the first TiC-P was 9.4 minutes. The time needed for filling out the questionnaire was 2.3 minutes less for follow up measurements. Proportions of missing values were limited (< 2.4%) except for medication for which in 10% of the cases costs could not be calculated. Cohen’s kappa was satisfactory to almost perfect for most items related to healthcare consumption and satisfactory for items on absence from work and presenteeism. Comparable results were shown by the ICCs on variables measuring volumes of medical consumption and productivity losses indicating good reliability of the questionnaire.Absolute agreement between patient-reported data and data derived from medical registrations of the psychotherapists was satisfactory. Accepting a margin of +/− seven days, the agreement on reported and registered data on long-term absence from work was satisfactory. The validity of self-reported data using the TiC-P is promising.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the TiC-P is a feasible and reliable instrument for collecting data on medical consumption and productivity losses in patients with mild to moderate mental health problems. Additionally, the construct validity of questions related to contacts with psychotherapist and long-term absence from work was satisfactory.

Four-Year Cost-effectiveness of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Preventing First-episode Psychosis: The Dutch Early Detection Intervention Evaluation (EDIE-NL) Trial

“…First, our study suffered from a high attrition rate. Comparing the participants who were retained with those who were lost to follow-up and using the 18-month follow-up data to describe both groups showed that those who were later lost to follow-up had less dysfunctional beliefs about their illness, fewer emotional disturbances, better quality of life, and lower symptom levels of general psychopathology, 42 ie, those who were lost appeared to have a better prognosis. So costs might be slightly overestimated and savings slightly underestimated.…”

“…However, Bouwmans et al found that the agreement between reported data on contacts with psychotherapists and long-term absence from work and registration data was around 70%-75%. 42 Furthermore, we cross-validated 90% of the self-reports with the electronic patient files and found an overestimation of service use in 5% of the cases, which was then corrected. Because 10% of the electronic patient files were not available for inspection, we had to rely on the self-reported health care uptake.…”

Internet- and mobile-based stress management for employees with adherence-focused guidance: efficacy and mechanism of change

“…Secondary outcomes included the following: Work-related outcomes: emotional exhaustion (subscale emotional exhaustion of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, MBI-EE, (44); 5 items; range 1-6; α=0.89), work engagement (Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, UWES, (45); 9 items; range 0-6; α=0.95), psychological detachment from work (subscale of the Recovery Experience Questionnaire, REQ-PD, (46); 4 items; range 1-5; α=0.92). To assess the number of "work loss" days (absenteeism from work) and the number of "work cutback" days (reduced efficiency at work while feeling ill; presenteeism) we used the respective items of the German Version of the Trimbos and Institute of Medical Technology Assessment Cost Questionnaire for Psychiatry (TiC-P-G) (47).…”

The societal costs of femoral neck fracture patients treated with internal fixation

“…The latter had 100% capture. These data were supplemented with data from a patient self-administered questionnaire, a customized version of the 'Trimbos and iMTA questionnaire on Costs associated with Psychiatric illness' (Tic-P), which has been validated for use in healthcare cost studies [14,15]. An English version of the original Tic-P is available online [16].The questionnaire included questions on stay in a rehabilitation center or nursing facility, number of contacts with the medical specialist and physical therapist, medication and the use of aids (e.g., walker, crutches, and wheelchair).…”