Computer-administered bath ankylosing spondylitis and Quebec Scale outcome questionnaires for low back pain: agreement with traditional paper format.

Objective: To measure the agreement between computer and paper-administered versions of Bath ankylosing spondylitis (AS) questionnaires and the Quebec Scale for low back pain (LBP).

Methods: Fifty patients with LBP completed the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Functional Index (BASFI), Global Score (BAS-G), and the Quebec Scale. Outcome measures were administered both in traditional paper format and by computerized touch-screen system. The order of completion was randomly assigned to each participant. The length of time required to complete each set of questionnaires was recorded and a "washout" period of at least 40 minutes was ensured between completion of the first and second set of outcome measures.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in completion time between the 2 methods of administration. A small systematic difference between computer and paper-administered versions was observed in the Quebec Scale and in the BAS-G results. However, there was a high degree of agreement between paper and computer-administered versions of the Quebec Scale, the BASDAI, BASFI, and BAS-G. Out of the 50 subjects, 84% indicated a preference for the computer-administered method.

Conclusion: The Bath AS questionnaires and the Quebec Scale can be reliably administered by a computerized touch-screen system. Given the ease of data integration and analysis supported by computer-administered versions of these outcome measures, their excellent reliability, and their popularity among study participants, the computerized versions of the BASDAI, BASFI, BAS-G, and Quebec Scale seem preferable to the traditional paper format.