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Computer-Administered Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis and Quebec Scale Outcome Questionnaires for Low Back Pain: Agreement with Traditional Paper Format
HELEN BENT, CHARLES R. RATZLAFF, EWAN C. GOLIGHER, JACEK A. KOPEC, and JEAN H. GILLIES
ABSTRACT. Methods. Fifty patients with LBP completed the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Functional Index (BASFI), Global Score (BAS-G), and the Quebec Scale. Outcome measures were administered both in traditional paper format and by computerized touch-screen system. The order of completion was randomly assigned to each participant. The length of time required to complete each set of questionnaires was recorded and a "washout" period of at least 40 minutes was ensured between completion of the first and second set of outcome measures. Results. There was no statistically significant difference in completion time between the 2 methods of administration. A small systematic difference between computer and paper-administered versions was observed in the Quebec Scale and in the BAS-G results. However, there was a high degree of agreement between paper and computer-administered versions of the Quebec Scale, the BASDAI, BASFI, and BAS-G. Out of the 50 subjects, 84% indicated a preference for the computer-administered method. Conclusion. The Bath AS questionnaires and the Quebec Scale can be reliably administered by a computerized touch-screen system. Given the ease of data integration and analysis supported by computer-administered versions of these outcome measures, their excellent reliability, and their popularity among study participants, the computerized versions of the BASDAI, BASFI, BAS-G, and Quebec Scale seem preferable to the traditional paper format. (J Rheumatol 2005;32:669-72) Key Indexing Terms:
OUTCOME MEASUREMENT
From St. Paul's Hospital Orthopaedic Medicine Clinic; and the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Supported by the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation. H. Bent, BA, PG Dip Psych; C.R. Ratzlaff, BSc (PT), FCAMT, St. Paul's Hospital Orthopaedic Medicine Clinic; E.C. Goligher, BSc, Med-1, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC); J.A. Kopec, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, UBC; J.H. Gillies, MD, FRCPC, Clinical Instructor, St. Paul's Hospital Orthopaedic Medicine Clinic and Division of Rheumatology, UBC. Address reprint requests to Dr. J.H. Gillies, Orthopaedic Medicine Clinic, St. Paul's Hospital, 401-1177 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G3, Canada. E-mail: jeangillies@telus.net Accepted November 29, 2004. |