A preliminary evaluation of mobile phone technology for repeated independent remote data capture using the mobile phone-based m-WOMAC NRS 3.1 Index.
Following orientation to the m-WOMAC Index, and initial completion in the office, patients took the phones home and independently completed the Index on four subsequent occasions over 12 days, sending their data each time to a server in USA.
Three men and nine women with hip (n = 2) and knee (n = 10) OA successfully completed the m-WOMAC Index on each occasion. Average time to completing the Index at termination was 4.8 min. The majority of patients rated logging on/opening the application, completing the m-WOMAC Index on the phone, and sending data as very easy (10-11/12), and were very confident (11/12) in continuing to use the phone to report their symptoms.
These data support the feasibility of repeated independent remote data capture using the m-WOMAC NRS3.1 Index.