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Does patient preference for online or telephone follow-up impact on response rates and data completeness following
Belinda J Gabbe1, Melissa J Hart, Amanda Brown
1From the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (B.J.G., M.J.H., A.B., S.M., M.J.M., B.B., P.A.C.), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Health Data Research UK (B.J.G.), Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, United Kingdom; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (M.J.H.), Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine (B.B.), Laval University, Quebec City, Canada; Department of Surgery (R.S.d.S.), Epworth Healthcare, The University of Melbourne; and Emergency and Trauma Centre (P.A.C.), The Alfred, Melbourne, Australia.
Background:
Routine collection of patient-reported outcomes is needed to better understand recovery, benchmark between trauma centers and systems, and monitor outcomes over time. A key component of follow-up methodology is the mode of administration of outcome measures with multiple options available. We aimed to quantify patient preference and compare the response rates and data completeness for telephone and online completion in trauma patients.
Methods:
A registry-based cohort study of adult (16 years and older) patients registered to the Victorian State Trauma Registry and Victorian Orthopedic Trauma Outcomes Registry from April 2020 to December 2020 was undertaken. Survivors to discharge were contacted by telephone and offered the option of telephone or online completion of 6-month follow-up using the five-level EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire and the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS). The online and telephone groups were compared for differences in characteristics, follow-up rates, and data completeness. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of choosing online completion.
Results:
Of the 3,886 patients, 51% (n = 1,994) chose online follow-up, and the follow-up rates were lower for online (77%), compared with telephone (89%), follow-up. Younger age, higher socioeconomic status, and preferred language other than English were associated with higher adjusted odds of choosing online completion. Admission to intensive care was associated with lower adjusted odds of choosing online completion. Completion rate for the EQ-5D-5L utility score was 97% for both groups. A valid total 12-WHODAS score could be calculated for 63% of online respondents compared with 86% for the telephone group.
Conclusion:
More than half of trauma patients opted for online completion. Completion rates did differ depending on the questionnaire and telephone follow-up rates were higher. Nevertheless, given the wide diversity of the trauma population, the high rate of online uptake, and potential resource constraints, the study findings largely support the use of dual methods for follow-up.
Level Of Evidence:
Prognostic/Epidemiological, Level III.
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