A comparison of tablet-based and paper-based venous insufficiency epidemiologic and economic study quality of life/symptom questionnaire for assessment of chronic venous disease.

Objective: To comparatively evaluate performances of tablet-based versus paper-based Venous Insufficiency Epidemiologic and Economic Study-Quality of Life/Symptom (VEINES-QOL/Sym) questionnaire. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 78 consecutive patients who completed tablet-based and paper-based VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaires and compared their scores, completion time, data entry time, and ease of use. We used Student's t-test and Wilcoxon test for quantitative variables, Bland–Altman test and kappa coefficient for agreement between questionnaires and patients, respectively. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess correlations. Results: Most participants (83.3%) found it easier to use the tablet device. Less time was needed to complete the tablet-based (median, 4.75; IQR, 3–7 min) than the paper-based (median, 8.3; IQR, 6.3–11.3 min) questionnaire (p <.001). Better educated patients took less time to complete paper-based (p =.003) and tablet-based (p =.001) questionnaires and considered the latter easier to use (p =.010). Conclusions: The tablet-based VEINES-QOL/Sym proved to be an easy-to-use and time-saving tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]