--- title: "Touchscreen questionnaire to collect pt data in rheumatology | Sutter Health" description: "Process redesign and touchscreen technology were used to develop successful collection of patient-reported outcomes in two rheumatology settings." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/touchscreen-questionnaire-to-collect-pt-data-in-rheumatology-1055312673" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Touchscreen questionnaire to collect pt data in rheumatology # Touchscreen questionnaire patient data collection in rheumatology practice: development of a highly successful system using process redesign. Newman ED, Lerch V, Jones JB, & Stewart W. _Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 64(4):589-96. doi: 10.1002/acr.21560._ 2012-04-01 ## Abstract OBJECTIVE: While questionnaires have been developed to capture patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in rheumatology practice, these instruments are not widely used. We developed a touchscreen interface designed to provide reliable and efficient data collection. Using the touchscreen to obtain PROs, we compared 2 different workflow models implemented separately in 2 rheumatology clinics. METHODS: The Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology was used in 2 cycles of workflow redesign. Cycle 1 relied on off-the-shelf questionnaire builder software, and cycle 2 relied on a custom programmed software solution. RESULTS: During cycle 1, clinic 1 (private practice model, resource replete, simple flow) demonstrated a high completion rate at the start, averaging between 74% and 92% for the first 12 weeks. Clinic 2 (academic model, resource deficient, complex flow) did not achieve a consistent completion rate above 60%. The revised cycle 2 implementation protocol incorporated a 15-minute "nurse visit," an instant messaging system, and a streamlined authentication process, all of which contributed to substantial improvement in touchscreen questionnaire completion rates of ∼80% that were sustained without the need for any additional clinic staff support. CONCLUSION: Process redesign techniques and touchscreen technology were used to develop a highly successful, efficient, and effective process for the routine collection of PROs in a busy, complex, and resource-depleted academic practice and in typical private practice. The successful implementation required both a touchscreen questionnaire, human behavioral redesign, and other technical solutions. [PubMed abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22162301) ![J.B. Jones, Ph.D., MBA](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/rIQfkoa5XfKJYCHSVrDKsACQSNJ7jTljZTHKC4Lae2E/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) J.B. Jones, Ph.D., MBA Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/jb-jones-phd-mba-1049680984) ## Research topics - [Arthritis](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Arthritis%5C%22%22) - [Medical Informatics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Medical+Informatics%5C%22%22) - [Musculoskeletal Disorders](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Musculoskeletal+Disorders%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Fracture risk tool validation in an integrated healthcare delivery system.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/fracture-risk-tool-validation-in-healthcare-delivery-system-1055312714) Lo JC, Pressman AR, Chandra M, Ettinger B. Am J Manag Care. 17(3):188-94. 2011 Mar 01 - Publication ### [Implementation of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system data collection in a private orthopedic surgery practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/implement-pt-reported-outcomes-system-orthopedic-practice-1055312399) Haskell A, Kim T. Foot Ankle Int. 1071100717753967. doi: 10.1177/1071100717753967. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2018 Jan 01 - Publication ### [Use of electronic health records for early detection of high-cost, low back pain patients.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/use-ehrs-to-detect-high-cost-low-back-pain-pts-1055312584) Maeng DD, Stewart WF, Yan X, Boscarino JA, Mardekian J, Harnett J, Von Korff MR. Pain Res Manag. 20(5):234-40. Epub 2015 Aug 20. 2015 Sep 01 - Publication ### [Racial and ethnic disparities in opioid prescribing for long bone fractures at discharge from the emergency department: a cross-sectional analysis of 22 centers from a health care delivery system in Northern California.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/racial-disparities-opiod-prescribing-for-fractures-in-ed-1055312717) Romanelli RJ, Shen Z, Szwerinski N, Scott A, Lockhart S, Pressman AR. Ann Emerg Med. pii: S0196-0644(19)30417-2. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2019.05.018. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2019 Jul 01 - Publication ### [Patterns of health care utilization for low back pain.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/health-care-utilization-in-low-back-pain-1055312713) Stewart WF, Yan X, Boscarino JA, Maeng DD, Mardekian J, Sanchez RJ, Von Korff MR. J Pain Res. 8:523-35. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S83599. eCollection 2015. 2015 Aug 12 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/touchscreen-questionnaire-to-collect-pt-data-in-rheumatology-1055312673#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Touchscreen questionnaire to collect pt data in rheumatology"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/touchscreen-questionnaire-to-collect-pt-data-in-rheumatology-1055312673#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Touchscreen questionnaire patient data collection in rheumatology practice: development of a highly successful system using process redesign.","headline":"Touchscreen questionnaire to collect pt data in rheumatology","abstract":"OBJECTIVE: While questionnaires have been developed to capture patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in rheumatology practice, these instruments are not widely used. We developed a touchscreen interface designed to provide reliable and efficient data collection. Using the touchscreen to obtain PROs, we compared 2 different workflow models implemented separately in 2 rheumatology clinics. METHODS: The Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology was used in 2 cycles of workflow redesign. Cycle 1 relied on off-the-shelf questionnaire builder software, and cycle 2 relied on a custom programmed software solution. RESULTS: During cycle 1, clinic 1 (private practice model, resource replete, simple flow) demonstrated a high completion rate at the start, averaging between 74% and 92% for the first 12 weeks. Clinic 2 (academic model, resource deficient, complex flow) did not achieve a consistent completion rate above 60%. The revised cycle 2 implementation protocol incorporated a 15-minute \"nurse visit,\" an instant messaging system, and a streamlined authentication process, all of which contributed to substantial improvement in touchscreen questionnaire completion rates of ∼80% that were sustained without the need for any additional clinic staff support. CONCLUSION: Process redesign techniques and touchscreen technology were used to develop a highly successful, efficient, and effective process for the routine collection of PROs in a busy, complex, and resource-depleted academic practice and in typical private practice. The successful implementation required both a touchscreen questionnaire, human behavioral redesign, and other technical solutions.","description":"Process redesign and touchscreen technology were used to develop successful collection of patient-reported outcomes in two rheumatology settings.","keywords":["Arthritis","Medical Informatics","Musculoskeletal Disorders"],"datePublished":"2012-04-01","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/touchscreen-questionnaire-to-collect-pt-data-in-rheumatology-1055312673","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"PMID","value":"22162301"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"DOI","value":"10.1002/acr.21560"}],"sameAs":["https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22162301/","https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.21560"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Newman ED"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Lerch V"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/jb-jones-phd-mba-1049680984","name":"Jones JB","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/jb-jones-phd-mba-1049680984"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Stewart W"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Arthritis","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Arthritis%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Medical Informatics","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Medical+Informatics%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Musculoskeletal Disorders","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Musculoskeletal+Disorders%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/touchscreen-questionnaire-to-collect-pt-data-in-rheumatology-1055312673","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/touchscreen-questionnaire-to-collect-pt-data-in-rheumatology-1055312673#breadcrumblist"}}} ```