Logistic feasibility of health related quality of life measurement in clinical practice: results of a prospective study in a large population of chronic liver patients

Abstract BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to provide a complete and detailed report of technical and logistical feasibility problems with the implementation of routine computerized HRQoL measurement at a busy outpatient department of Hepatology that can serve as a tool for future researchers interested in the procedure. METHODS: Practical feasibility was assessed by observing problems encountered during the development of the computer program, observing patients' ability to complete the HRQoL questionnaires, monitoring the number of times that patients completed the HRQoL que... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Gutteling, J.J. (Jolie)
Busschbach, J.J. (Jan) van
Man, R.A. (Robert) de
Darlington, A-S.E. (Anne-Sophie)
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2008
Schlagwörter: *Health Status / *Hepatitis / Chronic / *Physician's Practice Patterns / *Quality of Life / Adult / Aged / 80 and over / Feasibility Studies / Female / Humans / Logistic Models / Male / Middle Aged / Netherlands / Physicians/psychology / Questionnaires / Retrospective Studies / User-Computer Interface / Young Adult
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-29199065
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : http://repub.eur.nl/pub/20880

Abstract BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to provide a complete and detailed report of technical and logistical feasibility problems with the implementation of routine computerized HRQoL measurement at a busy outpatient department of Hepatology that can serve as a tool for future researchers interested in the procedure. METHODS: Practical feasibility was assessed by observing problems encountered during the development of the computer program, observing patients' ability to complete the HRQoL questionnaires, monitoring the number of times that patients completed the HRQoL questionnaires and observing logistics at the outpatient department. Patients' reasons for not completing the HRQoL questionnaires were assessed retrospectively by means of a mailed questionnaire. Physicians' attitudes towards the availability of computerized HRQoL information about their patients were assessed by means semi-structured interviews and by means of checklists administered after each consultation with s study participant. RESULTS: All physicians (n = 11) and 587 patients agreed to participate in the study. Practical feasibility problems concerned complicated technical aspects of developing a user-friendly computer program and safe data transmission over the Internet, patients' lack of basic computer skills and patients' lack of compliance (completion of questionnaires on only 43% of the occasions). The main reason given for non-compliance was simply forgetting, which seemed to be related to reception employees' passive attitude towards sending patients to the computer. Physicians were generally positive about the instant computerized availability of HRQoL information. They requested the information in 92% of the consultations and found the information useful in 45% of the consultations, especially when it provided them with new information. CONCLUSION: This study was among the first to implement the complete procedure of routine computerized HRQoL measurements in clinical practice and to subsequently describe the ...