title: Level of response to telematic questionnaires on Health Related Quality of Life on total knee replacement.
abstract: Questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life are difficult to perform and obtain for patients and professionals. Computerised tools are now available to collect this information. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of patients undergoing total knee replacement to fill in health-related quality-of-life questionnaires using a telematic platform.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety eight consecutive patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were included. Participants were given an access code to enter the website where they had to respond to 2 questionnaires (SF8 and the reduced WOMAC), and 3 additional questions about the difficulty in completing the questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 98 patients agreed to participate: 45 males and 53 females (mean age 72.7 years). Fourteen did not agree to participate due to lack of internet access. Of the final 84 participants, 50% entered the website, and only 36 answered all questions correctly. Of the patients who answered the questionnaire, 80% were helped by a relative or friend, and 22% reported difficulty accessing internet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of telematic systems to respond to health-related quality of life questionnaires should be used cautiously, especially in elderly population. It is likely that the population they are directed at is not prepared to use this type of technology. Therefore, before designing telematics questionnaires it must be ensured that they are completed properly.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: mbesalduch@santpau.cat.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Besalduch-Balaguer
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Aguilera-Roig
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Epidemiología Clínica y Salud Pública, CIBERESP, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Urrútia-Cuchí
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puntonet-Bruch
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jordan-Sales
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Osuna
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Celaya-Ibáñez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colomina-Morales
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine
keywords: Artroplastia total de rodilla; Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud; Health-related quality of life; Telematics; Telemática; Total knee arthroplasty