Another important factor to consider when collecting data for an outcomes management program is data error. The traditional approach can be associated with poor data quality because respondents might unintentionally skip questions and provide multiple responses to single survey items. Compared to the traditional method for SF-36 administration, the fax-based approach obviates the need for data entry, thereby potentially improving data quality. The computer touchscreen and Internet methods also eliminate additional data entry and reduce the number of missing or improperly completed items, because patients have to answer one question before advancing to the next. The computer touch-screen system or the Internet method for administration might be the best choices to minimize data error.

HOW MUCH DOES THIS METHOD COST?

The last issue that needs to be considered is the costs associated with the various methods. Recently, a cost identification study was conducted to estimate and compare the costs of the resources needed for three different methods (traditional, fax, and computer touch-screen) of administering and analyzing the SF-36 questionnaire in a clinical practice setting.¹³ The annual fixed, variable, and total costs per questionnaire were calculated for each of the three different approaches. canadian pharmacy

The study findings revealed that as the volume of SF-36 surveys administered rose, the total annual cost per survey decreased for all three methods of administration. The fax-based method was the least costly method for administering four (or fewer) SF-36 surveys per day as part of an outcomes management program. However, as the volume of administered SF-36 surveys increased to six surveys per day, the least costly method was the computer touch-screen approach (Table 2).

Table 2 Cost Per Survey at Different Annual SF-36 Survey Volumes

Internet-based administration of the SF-36 was not available when the cost identification study was conducted; therefore, the costs of the Internet-based methodology were not evaluated in that study. Internet services are now available in which electronic databases of completed SF-36 surveys can be developed, maintained, scored, and analyzed for a flat fee with an additional fee for each completed survey contained within the database, with a minimum of 500 surveys completed. Health care organizations and providers need to determine the volume of SF-36 surveys they anticipate administering and then compare the cost of Internet-based administration to the three other methods for administering the SF-36 to determine the system that would be most appropriate for their practice sites. cheap antibiotics without prescription

CONCLUSION

For those pharmacists and P&T committees looking to begin an outcomes management program measuring HRQoL using the SF-36 in their practice settings, this article illustrates some of the practical factors that first need to be considered. The choice of which system to use for administering the SF-36 is dependent on the site personnel availability, access to equipment, the speed with which data is needed, the acceptable level of data error, and the SF-36 questionnaire volume per site per day.