User Preferences for Computer Administration of Quality of Life Instruments
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0092-8615/2000 Copyright 0 2000 Drug Information Association Inc.
USER PREFERENCES FOR COMPUTER ADMINISTRATION OF QUALITY OF LIFE INSTRUMENTS* JOSEPHA. CRAWLEY, MS AstraZeneca LP, Wayne, Pennsylvania
LEAHKLEINMAN, DRPH MEDTAP International, Bethesda, Maryland
JASONDOMINITZ, MD, MHS Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
Introduction. While most health-related quality of life instruments are administered through paper and pencil self report or via in-person or telephone interviewel; the use of electronic data capture through a computer touch screen has unique advantages i f this mode of administration is acceptable to patients and researchers. Methods. A total of 134 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease were enrolled in an age stratified cross-over design study in which they were asked to complete two quality of life instruments using paper and pencil and computer touch screen administration. Responses on preference and ease of use were solicited from both patients and research coordinators. Results. Over 50% of patients found the computer to be more comfortable, fastel; easier to use, and the method they would prefer to use. The majority (82%) of the research coordinators would prefer to use the computer mode of administration in a clinical trial and they thought that the computer was easier f o r patients to use. Conclusions. The computer touch screen administration of quality of life instruments is a viable alternative for use in clinical trials. The two key user groups of patients and research coordinators strongly preferred the computer to traditional paper and pencil. Key Words: Health-related quality of life; Survey administration; Computer touch screen; Electronic data capture; Gastroesophageal reflux disease
INTRODUCTION HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY of life (HRQOL) questionnaires have become an in-
*This research was supported by a grant from AstraZeneca LP, Wayne, PA. Results of this research were presented in part at the DIA Workshop “Electronic Data Capture: Techonologies, Implications and Future Requirements,” November 16-17, 1998, Baltimore, Maryland. Reprint address: Joseph A. Crawley. Health Economics and Outcomes Research, AstraZeneca LP, 725 Chesterbrook Blvd. E-2C. Wayne, PA 19087.
creasingly important component of data collection in clinical trials. Reasons for use are vaned. HRQOL outcomes can be used to support observed symptom changes where there are no objective physiological markers of disease activity such as in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) without esophagitis. HRQOL can also be used to compare treatments where efficacy is similar but sideeffect profiles or effects on functional abilities differ. HRQOL data provide the patient perspective of what positive or negative impact the medical therapy and any side effects
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Joseph A. Crawley, LRah Kleinmun, and Jason Dominitz
may have had on their lives. When collected using validated instruments i
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