title: A structured questionnaire improves preoperative assessment of endometriosis patients: a retrospective analysis and prospective trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a structured questionnaire can improve preoperative assessment of patients with endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital records for patients with endometriosis were evaluated retrospectively to determine the completeness of information. A structured electronic questionnaire was developed and used to assess preoperatively patients with suspected or proved endometriosis. Data from both assessments were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysed retrospectively showed that there were valid answers for 89.2% of questions on a standard patient history template, but information was available for only 46.3% of parameters considered specific to endometriosis. Data from 69 patients investigated by structured electronic questionnaire gave improved rates of 90.3% for standard patient history items and 88.5% for endometriosis-specific parameters. Significant improvement in valid answers was achieved in 66.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A structured questionnaire improved the documentation of endometriosis-specific parameters. Further studies are needed to ensure that it enhances the effectiveness of preoperative counselling and decisions about surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Klinikstrasse 32, 35385 Giessen, Germany. andreas.hackethal@gyn.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hackethal
authors.forename: Catharina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luck
authors.forename: Ann-Kathrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: von Hobe
authors.forename: Kosai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eskef
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oehmke
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Konrad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires