title: Computer assisted outcomes research in orthopedics: total joint replacement.
abstract: Long-term studies are needed to determine clinically relevant outcomes within the practice of orthopedic surgery. Historically, the patient's subjective feelings of quality of life have been largely ignored. However, there has been a strong movement toward measuring perceived quality of life through such instruments as the SF-36. In a large database from an orthopedic practice results are presented. First, computerized data entry using touch screen technology is not only cost effective but user friendly. Second, patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty surgeries make statistically significant improvements in seven of the eight domains of the SF-36 in the first 3 months after surgery. Additional statistically significant improvements over the next 6 to 12 months are also seen. The data are presented here in detail to demonstrate the benefits of a patient outcomes program, to enhance the understanding and use of outcomes data and to encourage further work in outcomes measurement in orthopedics.
authors.affiliation: Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, Arizona 85712, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arslanian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bond
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D003199:Computer Systems; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface