JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to provide evidence to support usability and satisfaction, of the Norwegian Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7) electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measures (ePROMs). The electronic PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 Patient Reported Outcome Measurements (ePROMs) were pilot-tested on women with symptomatic Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) undergoing surgery at a department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a tertiary centre. Usability was the primary outcome. The level of usability was tested through usability testing followed by cognitive debriefing. The secondary outcomes included level of satisfaction using Patient Reported Experience Measurements (PREMs) and level of ease of use of the electronic compared to the paper version. The patients were invited to fill in the electronic and paper-based versions of the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 during the preoperative phase followed by a semi-structured interview 4-21 days after surgery. Of 74 Norwegian women who were invited to participate in the pilot test, 28 (38%) completed the paper-based version and electronic PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 versions using a web-based form pre-operatively. The median age of the sample was 55 years (range, 37–80 years). All participants reported that they had a computer at home and/or work and used the internet for email, banking and social activities. The usability study suggests that women with symptomatic POP and pelvic floor dysfunction found that the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 ePROMs were acceptable and easy to use. Furthermore, all patients reported that they were satisfied filling in the electronic versions of the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7. The majority of patients reported that the electronic version was easier to fill in compared to the paper version. The Research Ethics Committee, Akershus University Hospital has approved of this study (number 2019-101).