title: Serial personal digital assistant data capture of health-related quality of life: a randomized controlled trial in a prostate cancer clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In clinical and research practice linked to prostate cancer treatment, frequent monitoring of patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is essential. Practical and analytic limitations of paper questionnaire data capture may be overcome with the use of self-administered personal digital assistant (PDA) data collection. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability, validity, and feasibility of using PDA in place of paper versions of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the Patient Oriented Prostate Cancer Utility Survey (PORPUS), and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) in a prostate cancer clinic setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  152 participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) paper followed by PDA survey; 2) PDA followed by paper survey; or 3) PDA followed by PDA survey. Evaluation included an assessment of data quality (internal consistency, test-retest reliability, response correlation, completeness of data), and feasibility (participation rates, time to completion, preference and difficulty/ease of using PDA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal consistency was similar for both PDA and paper applications. Test-retest reliability was confirmed for PDA repeated administration. Data from paper and PDA questionnaires were strongly correlated. Lower missed item rates were found in PDA administration. 82.8% of participants preferred using the PDA or had no preference. Mean difficulty/ease ratings indicated that participants found the PDA easy to use. Age did not significantly correlate with preference or difficulty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm the adaptability of the IPSS, IIEF-5, and the PORPUS to PDA administration. Similarly, the findings of this study support the feasibility of using PDA technology for HRQOL serial data capture in the prostate cancer patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. andrew.matthew@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Matthew
authors.forename: Kristen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ritvo
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santa Mina
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jamnicky
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trachtenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000592:standards*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012107:Research Design; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*