Mark Clayer1, Aileen Davis. 1. Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, Australia. mark.clayer@health.sa.gov.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Web-based questionnaires have become popular, however, access to the Internet can be biased regarding age, gender, and education, among other factors. Therefore, it is unknown whether this is a reasonable avenue to administer a questionnaire to patients or whether Web-based can be a reliable alternative to paper-based. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We determined whether the Internet version of the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score is reproducible compared with the paper-based version and the compliance and completion rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 81 adults who had had surgery for a musculoskeletal tumor of the lower extremity more than 12 months earlier. The Toronto Extremity Salvage Score was administered by paper at a baseline interview and then readministered via Internet 7 to 14 days later to those with access. RESULTS: Sixty of the 81 patients (74%) were able to use the Internet. Increasing age and lower education levels were correlated with a lower likelihood of using the Internet. Questionnaires were done online and on paper by 56 patients but 10 were excluded because of self-reported change in circumstances. The mean TESS was 85.7 (range, 41.1-100; SD, 17.26) for the paper-based questionnaire and 85.2 (range, 42.5-100; SD, 17.47) for the Internet-based questionnaire. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.97. CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire can be transferred successfully to the Internet and can be used reliably instead of a paper-based instrument. Recruitment to use an Internet-based questionnaire is limited only by the percentage of patients able to access and use the Internet.
BACKGROUND: Web-based questionnaires have become popular, however, access to the Internet can be biased regarding age, gender, and education, among other factors. Therefore, it is unknown whether this is a reasonable avenue to administer a questionnaire to patients or whether Web-based can be a reliable alternative to paper-based. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We determined whether the Internet version of the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score is reproducible compared with the paper-based version and the compliance and completion rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 81 adults who had had surgery for a musculoskeletal tumor of the lower extremity more than 12 months earlier. The Toronto Extremity Salvage Score was administered by paper at a baseline interview and then readministered via Internet 7 to 14 days later to those with access. RESULTS: Sixty of the 81 patients (74%) were able to use the Internet. Increasing age and lower education levels were correlated with a lower likelihood of using the Internet. Questionnaires were done online and on paper by 56 patients but 10 were excluded because of self-reported change in circumstances. The mean TESS was 85.7 (range, 41.1-100; SD, 17.26) for the paper-based questionnaire and 85.2 (range, 42.5-100; SD, 17.47) for the Internet-based questionnaire. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.97. CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire can be transferred successfully to the Internet and can be used reliably instead of a paper-based instrument. Recruitment to use an Internet-based questionnaire is limited only by the percentage of patients able to access and use the Internet.
Authors: A S Wilson; G D Kitas; D M Carruthers; C Reay; J Skan; S Harris; G J Treharne; S P Young; P A Bacon Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2002-03 Impact factor: 7.580
Authors: Janine Piscione; Wendy Barden; Janie Barry; Alexandra Malkin; Trisha Roy; Tyki Sueyoshi; Karen Mazil; Steven Salomon; Firas Dandachli; Anthony Griffin; Hugo Saint-Yves; Pina Giuliano; Abha Gupta; Peter Ferguson; Katrin Scheinemann; Michelle Ghert; Robert E Turcotte; Lucie Lafay-Cousin; Joel Werier; Caron Strahlendorf; Marc Isler; Sophie Mottard; Samina Afzal; Megan E Anderson; Sevan Hopyan Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 4.176
Authors: Paul Sebo; Hubert Maisonneuve; Bernard Cerutti; Jean Pascal Fournier; Nicolas Senn; Dagmar M Haller Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2017-03-22 Impact factor: 5.428