Psychometric Validation of the Perception of Injection (PIN) Questionnaire Using Data From Two Phase III, Open-Label, Active-Controlled, Non-Inferiority Studies in People Living With HIV

Introduction Currently, there are no patient-reported outcome tools specifically validated for use in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) to measure treatment injection acceptance and experience. The Perception of Injection (PIN) questionnaire was modified with consent from the Vaccinees’ Perception of Injection (VAPI), a validated instrument developed by Sanofi Pasteur. The objective of developing the PIN was to provide information on participant experience with injectable therapies, including acceptance of pain, injection-site reactions, and tolerability following injections in PLHIV. Methods This post hoc analysis used data from participants who received the long-acting intramuscular cabotegravir plus rilpivirine combination treatment every 4 weeks, as part of the ATLAS (NCT02951052) and FLAIR (NCT02938520) studies, to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PIN questionnaire. Results These findings support the reliability, validity, and responsiveness to change for the PIN questionnaire in PLHIV. Conclusion As a clinical trial endpoint, the PIN questionnaire could provide valuable evidence around the acceptance and experience of injections in PLHIV which could have implications for treatment adherence in this population. Trial Registration ATLAS (NCT02951052); 1 November, 2016. FLAIR (NCT02938520); 19 October, 2016.