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Patient Centric Care Approaches in PBC

KOL Interview

October 2025

In this episode, Dr. Robert Wong from the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Stanford University School of Medicine discusses the value of patient-centric care and patient-reported outcomes in managing Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC). While traditional care often focuses on liver function tests and biochemical markers like alkaline phosphatase, Dr. Wong emphasizes the equal importance of understanding how PBC impacts a patient’s daily life, mental health, and overall quality of life. He highlights the PBC-40 questionnaire, a validated tool that captures six key domains—fatigue, emotional well-being, social and cognitive function, general symptoms, and itch (pruritus)—making it an essential instrument for comprehensive symptom assessment. Incorporating the PBC-40 into pre-visit questionnaires or waiting-room checklists allows clinicians to efficiently identify and address the most distressing symptoms before and during patient visits. Dr. Wong explains how integrating PROs enhances shared decision-making, helps manage challenging symptoms such as pruritus, and fosters multidisciplinary collaboration with specialists in dermatology, mental health, nutrition, and rheumatology. This holistic, patient-centered approach not only improves symptom management but also strengthens engagement, satisfaction, and outcomes for individuals living with PBC.