Comparative Study of 2 Different Questionnaires in Japanese Patients: The Quality of Life and Utility Evaluation Survey Technology Questionnaire (QUEST) Versus the Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (FSSG).
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the convenience of the quality of life and utility evaluation survey technology (QUEST) questionnaire and the frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG) questionnaire as self-assessment diagnostic instrument.


METHODS
This was a two-way crossover study conducted over 6 weeks from September 2010 to November 2010. The subjects were 60 consecutive patients admitted to the Hiratsuka city hospital with a gastrointestinal condition, regardless of the coexistence of heartburn. They were assigned to fill in both the QUEST and FSSG questionnaires in random order. We analyzed the time taken to complete the questionnaires, whether subjects asked any questions as they filled in the questionnaire, and the questionnaire scores.


RESULTS
Comparison of the QUEST and the FSSG revealed significant differences in the completion time (196.5 vs. 97.5 seconds, respectively; P < 0.0001) and in whether subjects asked any questions (37 vs. 15 subjects, respectively; P < 0.0001). Completion time in QUEST scores of ≥ 4 was lower than < 4 (170.5 vs. 214.0 seconds, respectively; P = 0.022), and the QUEST score was significantly higher without questions than with question (3 vs. 1 points, respectively; P = 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that the FSSG questionnaire may be easier for Japanese subjects to complete than the QUEST questionnaire.
Division of Gastroenterology, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. ; Department of Gastroenterology, Hiratsuka City Hospital, Hiratsuka, Japan.
Takashi
T
Nonaka
Takaomi
T
Kessoku
Yuji
Y
Ogawa
Shogo
S
Yanagisawa
Tadahiko
T
Shiba
Takashi
T
Sakaguchi
Kazuhiro
K
Atsukawa
Hisao
H
Takahashi
Yusuke
Y
Sekino
Hiroshi
H
Iida
Hiroki
H
Endo
Yasunari
Y
Sakamoto
Tomoko
T
Koide
Hirokazu
H
Takahashi
Masato
M
Yoneda
Shin
S
Maeda
Atsushi
A
Nakajima
Eiji
E
Gotoh
Masahiko
M
Inamori
Comparative study; Gastroesophageal reflux; Questionnaires