Patients’ and Clinicians’ Perspectives on the Acceptability of Completing Digital Quality of Life Questionnaires During Routine Haemodialysis Clinics: A Mixed-Methods Study

Citation

Meiklem R, Stevenson K, Richarz S, Kingsmore D, Bouamrane M, Dunlop M & Thomson P (2022) Patients’ and Clinicians’ Perspectives on the Acceptability of Completing Digital Quality of Life Questionnaires During Routine Haemodialysis Clinics: A Mixed-Methods Study. In: Volume 290: MEDINFO 2021: One World, One Health – Global Partnership for Digital Innovation. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Volume 290. IOS Press, pp. 752 - 756. https://doi.org/10.3233/shti220179

Abstract
Advanced chronic kidney disease is a serious and common medical condition with significant treatment choices incurring varying high treatment burdens. Better understanding on how to best collect quality of life (QoL) in this unique situation may help guide critical decisions. This study investigates the acceptability of digital QoL questionnaires completed during routine haemodialysis sessions. Qualitative data was collected from patient (n=23) and clinical researcher (n=2) interviews alongside analysis of data from questionnaires completed by patients (n=101) during a 6-week validation study. Interviews refined the content and format of digital QoL questionnaires and provided novel insights regarding how patients assessed and completed QoL questions. This study suggests collecting QoL data using digital tablet technology during routine haemodialysis clinics is both feasible and acceptable to patients and has provided novel insights that are not routinely available with traditional methods.

Keywords
Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease; Quality of Life Measures; Digital Questionnaires