Brief report: Assessment of children's gastrointestinal symptoms for clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a pilot study evaluating a procedure for assessment of daily symptoms and functioning in pediatric patients.


METHODS
Participants included 11 parent-child dyads referred to a tertiary care center for evaluation of constipation and abdominal pain. Each family was provided a hand-held computer and modem. For 7 consecutive days, parents and children (ages 6-10 years) responded as a team to questions regarding the level of children's gastrointestinal symptoms and the extent to which symptoms interfered with the day's activities. Parents responded to a telephone interview evaluating the procedure.


RESULTS
Parents reported that children understood most questions and that responses entered into the computer were accurate. Parents and children were enthusiastic about the data collection method. Some technical problems arose in use of the computers.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of a small sample, this data collection procedure appears to have promise for evaluating pediatric symptom outcomes.
Walker
Lynn S
LS
Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Lynn.Walker@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Sorrells
Susan C
SC
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010552:Personality Assessment