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Validation of a computer version of the patient-administered Danish prostatic symptom score questionnaire
H L Flyger1, E B Kallestrup, S O Mortensen
1Department of Surgery, Urology Section, Hillerød Hospital, Denmark.
Objective:
To validate a computer version of the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) questionnaire and compare it with the paper version.
Material And Methods:
Ninety-three male patients (aged 25-87 years), referred to a department of urology for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), filled in a personal computer (PC) version and a paper version of the DAN-PSS questionnaire. Subsequently they answered a questionnaire concerning their preferences and computer experience.
Results:
A fair correlation between the total scores from the paper and PC versions was found. The differences were independent of both total score and age. In the PC version all LUTS questions were answered while 9.8% were left blank in the paper version. The sexual questions were answered by 71% of patients in the paper version and by 87.5% in the PC version. For the questions in the PC version a learning curve was observed in terms of the time taken to answer the questions. Previous computer experience did not influence answering time, difference in score between paper and PC versions or total score. Almost all patients preferred the PC version to the paper version.
Conclusion:
The PC scores are reasonably reliable judging by comparison with previously validated traditional paper scores. The PC questionnaire had a higher response rate and was preferred by the majority of patients.