Does Using a 'Virtual Clinic' in Urogynaecology Improve Patient Experience and Reduce Cost?

ePAQ is a web-based interactive questionnaire (electronic pelvic floor assessment questionnaire) that provides a detailed evaluation of a woman's pelvic floor symptoms and their impact on her quality of life. Touch-screen technology has been combined with computer programming (Dot Net \& SQL Server) and existing paper-based instruments to produce an interactive user-friendly system that facilitates immediate data entry, analysis and storage. The instrument has evolved during several years' collaborative work with colleagues in a range of disciplines, including Gynaecology, Medical Physics, Colorectal Surgery, Urology and General Practice, as well as involving a women's health user-group and regular surveys of patients' views.1 Research in primary and secondary care has established the psychometric properties of the instrument.2 The system has won a National award for innovation (HITEA) and was cited in Lord Warner's Annual Report on NHS Innovation.3 EPAQ Systems Ltd is one of the first NHS spin-out technology companies to be established in the UK (created jointly with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in November 2006).

More recent development work has resulted in the creation of a website, where subjects can securely and anonymously access and use the ePAQ system via the Internet. This potentially allows subjects to use system in advance of clinic appointments (as opposed to the current practice of their completing it on arrival in clinic, immediately prior to their appointment). This study aims to evaluate the impact that using ePAQ in this way may have on the efficiency and quality of patient care. Initial survey data suggest that many women attending urogynaecology clinics do have access to the Internet and would be willing to use the system on-line \& in advance of clinic appointments.4 The facility is also available in the Gynaecology Unit for women without Internet access to attend specifically for supervised use of the system. The in-depth assessment provided by the ePAQ may then be used to support an initial telephone consultation with a clinician, following which patients may be directed to the most appropriate clinic, as well as being provided with information and advice and have some forms of treatment initiated (such as behavioural therapy). The proposed randomised study aims to compare outcomes in women who use the ePAQ system in this way with women who undergo standard care in the Urogynaecology Unit.

The major advantage of electronic systems, when compared with paper questionnaires, relate to the practicalities of clinical data capture. Electronic questionnaires are comparable in terms of reliability and can be superior in terms of efficiency and response rate. In addition, electronic touch-screen questionnaires have been shown to be acceptable to patients, regardless of their age or educational background. Data quality is high, even in disadvantaged and technophobic subjects and cost analysis has shown potential economic advantages.5,6,7,8,9 Pelvic floor disorders in women, such as incontinence and prolapse, share common aetiologies and commonly coexist. Estimates vary, though it is estimated that approximately 20% of adult women experience regular urinary incontinence, 5% have some incontinence of faeces and 11% suffer with prolapse.10,11,12 However, despite better understanding of these conditions, bowel, bladder, vaginal and sexual dysfunction remain understandably taboo subjects and many women still regard them as inevitable consequences of childbirth and ageing. The personal cost to individuals is high, however simple and effective treatments are increasingly available. Many disorders respond well to behavioural, physical or medical therapy and such conservative treatments are generally recommended prior to consideration of invasive investigations or surgery.13 In clinical practice, clinical assessment is central to diagnosis and management and the restoration of function, with a view to improving quality of life, is the principal aim of treatment. It is well recognised that clinical interview data may be unreliable, being based on clinicians' rather than patients' views of their condition. It seems appropriate therefore, to seek ways of improving clinical assessment in order to enhance the quality of care and reliably measure outcome. Many women with pelvic floor disorders are managed in the community by GPs, nurses, physiotherapists or continence nurse advisors. In secondary and tertiary care, urologists, gynaecologists, colorectal surgeons and geriatricians are likely to be involved. However, at all levels, inconsistencies in clinical assessments represent an impediment to effective communication and the multidisciplinary approach advocated by the DoH, who in 2000 recommended the following:

• Full assessment leading to first line treatment in the primary care setting, with treatment \& management plans agreed with individual patients.
• The provision of an integrated continence service, bringing together agreed protocols and procedures for primary, secondary and tertiary care.
• A comprehensive continence service, at home and in homes, bringing together all relevant health disciplines.

The further development of ePAQ has the potential to substantially augment this process by using on-line assessments to support patients' initial management and triage. Using ePAQ in advance of clinic appointments may provide patients and clinicians with prompt and valuable information and assist in directing patients to the most appropriate clinics in primary and secondary care. However, such a development warrants scrutiny in terms of patient experience and cost.

The ePAQ is now an established part of standard care and is in routine use in the Sheffield Urogynaecology Unit. All new patients are given the opportunity to complete the questionnaire, online, at home and their printed results are then used to inform the subsequent clinical consultation. The aims of this research are to measure the impact that using a virtual clinic (ePAQ-PF in advance of clinic appointments + a telephone consultation) has on patient care and cost compared to standard care (ePAQ-PF in advance of clinic appointments + a face to face consultation).