Abstract
BackgroundCollecting patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) via computer-based electronic data capture system may improve feasibility and facilitate implementation in clinical care. We report our initial experience about the acceptability of touch-screen tablet computer-based, self-administered questionnaires among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including stage 5 CKD treated with renal replacement therapies (RRT) (either dialysis or transplant).MethodsWe enrolled a convenience sample of patients with stage 4 and 5 CKD (including patients on dialysis or after kidney transplant) in a single-centre, cross-sectional pilot study. Participants completed validated questionnaires programmed on an electronic data capture system (DADOS, Techna Inc., Toronto) on tablet computers. The primary objective was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of using tablet-based electronic data capture in patients with CKD. Descriptive statistics, Fischer’s exact test and multivariable logistic regression models were used for data analysis.ResultsOne hundred and twenty one patients (55% male, mean age (± SD) of 58 (±14) years, 49% Caucasian) participated in the study. Ninety-two percent of the respondents indicated that the computer tablet was acceptable and 79% of the participants required no or minimal help for completing the questionnaires. Acceptance of tablets was lower among patients 70 years or older (75% vs. 95%; p = 0.011) and with little previous computer experience (81% vs. 96%; p = 0.05). Furthermore, a greater level of assistance was more frequently required by patients who were older (45% vs. 15%; p = 0.009), had lower level of education (33% vs. 14%; p = 0.027), low health literacy (79% vs. 12%; p = 0.027), and little previous experience with computers (52% vs. 10%; p = 0.027).ConclusionsTablet computer-based electronic data capture to administer PROMs was acceptable and feasible for most respondents and could therefore be used to systematically assess PROMs among patients with CKD. Special consideration should focus on elderly patients with little previous computer experience, since they may require more assistance with completion.
Highlights
Collecting patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) via computer-based electronic data capture system may improve feasibility and facilitate implementation in clinical care
Individuals who were 18 years or older with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease were eligible, including those with stage 5 CKD treated with renal replacement therapies. eGFR was determined by the CKD-EPI Equation
Patients who have been on dialysis treatment for more than 90 days have been recruited from the dialysis center of our hospital; in their case eGFR was not assessed as an inclusion criterion
Summary
Collecting patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) via computer-based electronic data capture system may improve feasibility and facilitate implementation in clinical care. Depression has a negative impact on healthrelated quality of life [4, 5], but is associated with poor treatment adherence, hospitalization [6], high morbidity [4] and overall mortality [4, 5, 7,8,9] Despite these concerning facts, systematic assessment of symptoms (including mental health comorbidities) in the clinical management of CKD is not implemented as a standard of care, and depression and anxiety is often unrecognized and undertreated [10, 11]. Assessment of the patient’s own perception on functional and psychosocial well-being, quality of life and social support needs, is rarely incorporated in routine nephrology practice [37, 38] This could be done using validated standard questionnaires to regularly collect PROMs to capture various dimensions of the patient’s subjective experience
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
