title: Using a pen-based computer to collect health-related quality of life and utilities information.
abstract: We have developed a system that uses the Newton MessagePad technology as part of a client-client-server paradigm to collect health-related quality of life information from breast cancer patients attending an outpatient clinic at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Patients are asked to fill out an electronic questionnaire on the Newton, which then uploads the information into the institution's Oracle database. The program consists of a separate questionnaire engine and question base, facilitating questionnaire design and allowing us to give different questionnaires to different patients dynamically. The results of a preliminary trial show excellent user-acceptance of the device. Finally, we present a general framework for such systems and discuss issues that developers must consider when implementing a pen-based computer project.
authors.affiliation: MIT Clinical Decision-Making Group, Cambridge, USA.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kohane
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Weeks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003625:Data Collection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface