Computerized Measurement for Asthma-Specific Quality of Life: Comparison with a Conventional Paper-and-Pencil Questionnaire

Lee, Eun-Hyun

doi:10.4040/jkan.2009.39.6.781

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2009 Dec;39(6):781-787. Korean.
Published online Dec 31, 2009.
https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.6.781

Original Article

Computerized Measurement for Asthma-Specific Quality of Life: Comparison with a Conventional Paper-and-Pencil Questionnaire

Eun-Hyun Lee

Author information

Author notes

Copyright and License

- Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public Health, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
Address reprint requests to: Lee, Eun-Hyun. Graduate School of Public Health, Ajou University, San 5 Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 443-721, Korea. Tel: 82-31-219-5296, Fax: 82-31-219-5084, Email: ehlee@ajou.ac.kr

Received August 18, 2009; Accepted November 11, 2009.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a computerized touch-screen version of the asthma-specific quality-of-life (cA-QOL) questionnaire against the conventional paper-and-pencil version (pA-QOL) for equivalence, time for completion, user preference, and ease of use.

Methods

A total of 261 patients were recruited. A randomized cross-over design was used. Patients in group A completed the cA-QOL first while waiting to see a physician, and completed the pA-QOL version after seeing the physician. Patients allocated in group B completed these questionnaires in the reverse order. The patients were asked questions about user preference and ease of use of the cA-QOL. The time taken to complete both versions of the questionnaire was measured.

Results

Weighted kappa coefficients of all items showed almost perfect agreement. The time required to complete the pA-QOL is faster than the time for cA-QOL. The patients who preferred the cA-QOL were 37.5%, while those who preferred the pA-QOL were 29.9%. Most patients reported that the cA-QOL was "easy" or "very easy" to complete.

Conclusion

The cA-QOL is the computerized equivalent of the pA-QOL. The findings herein demonstrate that the cA-QOL can be helpful to nurses in busy practices for assessing, collecting, and evaluating their patients' health related quality of life.

Keywords

Asthma; Health-related quality of life; Computer; Measurement

Figures

Figure 1
Randomized cross-over design.

cA-QOL=computer mode of A-QOL; pA-QOL=paper mode of A-QOL.

Click for larger image

Figure 2
Mean of log time taken to complete the cA-QOL and pA-QOL.

cA-QOL=computer mode of A-QOL; pA-QOL=paper mode of A-QOL.

Click for larger image

Tables

Table 1
Patient Characteristics (N=261)

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Table 2
Individual Score Agreement between the cA-QOL and pA-QOL: Κ_w

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Table 3
Two-Period Cross-Over Study of the Mean of Log Time Taken to Complete the cA-QOL and the pA-QOL

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Notes

This work was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD) (KRF-2007-521-E00158).

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