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Singer S, Sykiotis G, Al-Ibraheem A, Pinto M, Iakovou I, Østhus AA, Hammerlid E, Locati LD, Gamper EM, Arraras JI, Jordan S, Buettner M, Engesser D, Taylor K, Canotilho R, Ioannidis G, Husson O, Gama RR, Fanetti G, Moss L, Inhestern J, Andry G, Rimmele H, Kiyota N. The impact of electronic versus paper-based data capture on data collection logistics and on missing scores in thyroid cancer patients. Endocrine 2024; 84:635-645. [PMID: 38103143 PMCID: PMC11076317 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03628-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the type of data capture on the time and help needed for collecting patient-reported outcomes as well as on the proportion of missing scores. METHODS In a multinational prospective study, thyroid cancer patients from 17 countries completed a validated questionnaire measuring quality of life. Electronic data capture was compared to the paper-based approach using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 437 patients were included, of whom 13% used electronic data capture. The relation between data capture and time needed was modified by the emotional functioning of the patients. Those with clinical impairments in that respect needed more time to complete the questionnaire when they used electronic data capture compared to paper and pencil (ORadj 24.0; p = 0.006). This was not the case when patients had sub-threshold emotional problems (ORadj 1.9; p = 0.48). The odds of having the researcher reading the questions out (instead of the patient doing this themselves) (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) and of needing any help (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) were lower when electronic data capture was used. The proportion of missing scores was equivalent in both groups (ORadj 0.4, p = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS The advantages of electronic data capture, such as real-time assessment and fewer data entry errors, may come at the price of more time required for data collection when the patients have mental health problems. As this is not uncommon in thyroid cancer, researchers need to choose the type of data capture wisely for their particular research question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Singer
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
- University Cancer Centre, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Gerasimos Sykiotis
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Akram Al-Ibraheem
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan
| | - Monica Pinto
- Rehabilitation Medicine Unit, Strategic Health Services Department, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - Ioannis Iakovou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Arild Andre Østhus
- ENT and Head and Neck Department, University Medical Centre Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eva Hammerlid
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Laura Deborah Locati
- Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Eva Maria Gamper
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Susan Jordan
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Matthias Buettner
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Deborah Engesser
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Katherine Taylor
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Rita Canotilho
- Instituto Português do Oncologia do Porto Francisco Gentil, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Olga Husson
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Giuseppe Fanetti
- Division of Radiotherapy, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, PN, Italy
| | - Laura Moss
- Velindre Cancer Centre, Velindre University NHS Trust, Cardiff, UK
| | - Johanna Inhestern
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Oberhavelkliniken, Hennigsdorf, Germany
| | - Guy Andry
- Surgery Department, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Harald Rimmele
- Bundesverband Schilddrüsenkrebs - Ohne Schilddrüse leben e. V., Berlin, Germany
| | - Naomi Kiyota
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Center, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan
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