title: Monitoring validated quality of life outcomes after prostatectomy: initial description of novel online questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a novel, low-cost, online health-related quality of life (HRQOL) survey that allows for automated follow-up and convenient access for patients in geographically diverse locations. Clinicians and investigators have been encouraged to use validated HRQOL instruments when reporting outcomes after radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The institutional review board approved our protocol and the use of a secure web site (http://www.SurveyMonkey.com) to send patients a collection of validated postprostatectomy HRQOL instruments by electronic mail. To assess compliance with the electronic mail format, a pilot study of cross-sectional surveys was sent to patients who presented for follow-up after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. The response data were transmitted in secure fashion in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After providing written informed consent, 514 patients who presented for follow-up after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy from March 2010 to February 2011 were sent the online survey. A total of 293 patients (57%) responded, with an average age of 60 years and a median interval from surgery of 12 months. Of the respondents, 75% completed the survey within 4 days of receiving the electronic mail, with a median completion time of 15 minutes. The total survey administration costs were limited to the web site's $200 annual fee-for-service.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An online survey can be a low-cost, efficient, and confidential modality for assessing validated HRQOL outcomes in patients who undergo treatment of localized prostate cancer. This method could be especially useful for those who cannot return for follow-up because of geographic reasons.
authors.affiliation: Division of Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Urology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10022, USA.
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sebrow
authors.forename: Hugh J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lavery
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brajtbord
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.forename: Adam W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Levinson
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Samadi
mesh_terms: D016494:Computer Security; D003219:Confidentiality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012371:Robotics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome