PATIENTS EXPERIENCES USING A COMPUTERIZED PROGRAM WITH A TOUCH-SENSITIVE VIDEO MONITOR FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE

This study assessed patients' experiences using a computerized program with a touch-sensitive video monitor (TSVM) for the assessment of hea lth-related quality of life (HRQoL), A software program was developed for a computerized form of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the QLQ-C30, One hu ndred and seventy-eight patients completed the QLQ-C30, followed by a structured interview designed to assess perceived difficulties with th e use of the TSVM, Patients were asked to evaluate the ease of use of different aspects of the TSVM system (using the touch-sensitive screen , entering the patient identification number, reading the screen and f ollowing the on-screen instructions). The majority of patients found a ll aspects of the TSVM system 'very easy' to use. A few patients (1-2% ) admitted finding any aspect of the TSVM use 'somewhat difficult' and none ranked any aspect as 'very difficult'. There were no unanswered items in the QLQ-C30. All patients found the amount of time spent on a nswering the questionnaire acceptable, (the mean time to complete was 6.8 min with a median of 5 min) and 96% stated they were willing to co mplete a similar questionnaire on a future occasion. From the patients ' perspective the TSVM system appears to be a highly acceptable approa ch for the collection of HRQoL data in clinical practice. Qual. Life R es. 7:513-519 (C) 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers.