Validation of a 3 day electronic bladder diary as an app for smart‐phone

Abstract

Aim To validate an electronic 3‐day bladder diary (BD) as an easy‐to‐use app for smart‐phone (eDM3d). Methods Descriptive and cross‐sectional prospective study. One hundred and thirty‐six patients with overactive bladder syndrome (OABs) or nocturia who had a smart‐phone and attended the urology clinics of a tertiary hospital from June to November 2017 were included. Patients filled the eDM3d (test) and the Spanish validated paper BD (DM3d) and questionnaires ICIQ‐UISF and BASQ during the first week. Two weeks later, they repeated the eDM3d (retest). We assessed feasibility of the eDM3d (percentage of variables completed), test‐retest reliability (qualitative variables: McNemar test; quantitative variables: ICC), paper‐app correlation (qualitative variables: Kappa index; quantitative variables: ICC) and convergent validity (correlation between eDM3d and questionnaires, Spearman's rank test). Patients answered a question about satisfaction: “If you had to repeat a BD again, would you choose paper or the app version?” Results One hundred and twenty‐three (90.4%) participants completed all the variables of the first eDM3d. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients classified as positive for each symptom between test and retest. ICC ranged from 0.73 to 0.94 for all variables (P < 0.001) in the test‐retest assessment. Paper‐app correlation was good to excellent for all variables (ICC 0.76‐0.95, P < 0.001; Kappa index 0.56‐0.84, P < 0.001). Correlation between the eDM3d and the questionnaires ranged from 0.23 to 0.6 (P < 0.01). 120 (88.2%) patients would choose the eDM3d if they had to repeat a BD. Conclusion The eDM3d presents suitable feasibility, reliability, and validity to assess patients with OABs or nocturia who have a smart‐phone.

Performance, acceptability, and validation of a phone application bowel diary

“…In the case of urinary incontinence, electronic diaries have demonstrated greater accuracy and reliability of micturition and incontinence frequency data compared with paper diaries. [9][10][11] For research programs, the immediate electronic recording of participant-entered data also reduces the work and errors associated with manual data entry by research staff. 8,10,12. Motivated by the potential advantages of improved compliance, enhanced data quality, and reduced administrative costs, the pelvic floor disorders network, a multicenter clinical trials network established by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, developed a phone application electronic bowel diary (PFDN Bowel eDiary) for use in its NeurOmodulaTion for Accidental Bowel Leakage (NOTABLe) study.…”

Urology apps: overview of current types and use

“…Another issue is that few apps are scientifically validated for effective and correct use by urologists and patients [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. The current ratings are based on a user feedback rating system, unreliable and above all not scientifically valid.…”

Pharmacologic management of nocturnal polyuria: a contemporary assessment of efficacy, safety, and progress toward individualized treatment

“…This potential diagnostic alternative is particularly noteworthy in view of growing investigative interest in adjunctive strategies to voiding diary analysis in order to facilitate a more patient-centered approach to nocturia evaluation and management. [146][147][148][149][150][151] Even among patients who share a common diagnosis nocturnal polyuria, the composition of their nocturnal urine is highly variable, 117,152,153 such that most nocturnal polyuria patients can be further phenotyped as having (a) excess free water diuresis, (b) excess solute diuresis, or (c) mixed water/solute diuresis 74,154 (Figure 1). Phenotyping patients by the composition of their excess urine volume -the relevant substrate for pharmacologic interventions directed at nocturnal polyuria -carries the potential to directly facilitate individualized treatment.…”