Patient Preference for Display of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes: Wording Emphasis, Question Format, and Navigation Button Placement

Abstract

Objectives: Patient engagement and adherence are critical to the success of clinical trials. Electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) are increasingly used to evaluate clinical trial endpoints. This study characterized how subjects prefer to use various types of technology to report ePROs in a clinical trial. Considering patient preference during trial design may reduce patient burden and improve patient engagement. MethOds: 416 subjects with osteoarthritis (OA, n= 104), type 2 diabetes (n= 102), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, n= 103), or depression (n= 107) were surveyed regarding their preferences for using computers, smartphones, and internet in clinical trials. Results: Subjects were diverse in age, sex, ethnicity, and technology use. 52% reported having a computer at home, 46% reported using the internet daily, and 45% reported owning a smartphone. Subjects reported that they would be willing to participate in a clinical trial using the internet for up to 1 month (25%), 2-6 months (19%), 1-2 years (14%), or 5+ years (15%). Similarly, subjects were willing to participate in a clinical trial using a smartphone for up to 1 month (25%), 2-6 months (22%), 1-2 years (12%), or 5+ years (14%). When asked what time of day they would prefer to complete a daily electronic diary, subjects preferred 8pm-midnight (26%), 8am-noon (21%), or 4pm-8pm (15%). Subjects thought it would be necessary (14%) or helpful (69%) to have an audible alarm to remind them to record their symptoms. In a multi-select question, subjects preferred to report their symptoms once a day for a clinical trial using a provisioned smartphone (49%), internet (46%), or an application on their personal smartphone (42%). cOnclusiOns: Subjects are willing to use computers, smartphones, and internet in a clinical trial setting. Trial sponsors should consider patient preferences for specific technology features to reduce patient burden and improve engagement and adherence when using ePRO assessments. PIH39develoPment and evalUatIon of a crosswalk between tHe eq-5d-5l and menoPaUse-sPecIfIc qUalIty of lIfe (menqol) qUestIonnaIre In PostmenoPaUsal women