Perspectives of Patients and Professionals on Implementing a Computer Adaptive Vision-Related Quality of Life Outcome (CAT-EyeQ) in Clinical Practice.

PURPOSE

The CAT-EyeQ is a computer adaptive test (CAT) which measures vision-related quality of life in patients having exudative retinal diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the usability of the CAT-EyeQ in clinical practice and identify potential barriers and facilitators for implementation (problem analysis).

METHODS

Patients and health care professionals participated in the study regarding the usability of the CAT-EyeQ, and clinic managers and health care professionals were included in the problem analysis for implementation. In total, we conducted 18 semi-structured interviews. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to develop the interview guides and to structure results.

RESULTS

Six themes were derived from the usability study and problem analysis: (1) quality of the CAT-EyeQ and the applicability to patients' needs and preferences, (2) embedding the CAT-EyeQ in current practice, (3) implementation climate of the eye hospitals, (4) attitude of professionals, (5) engaging and encouraging professionals, and (6) integration of the CAT-EyeQ in health care - needs after piloting.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients and professionals mentioned that the CAT-EyeQ improved insight into the impact of eye diseases on a patient's daily life, it allowed for more attention on the patient perspective and the structured measurement of vision-related quality of life. The main perceived barriers mentioned by professionals for using the CAT-EyeQ were lack of time and the integration of the patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) results within the electronic patient record (EPR).

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

The CAT-EyeQ, accompanied by an overview of stakeholder perspectives resulting from this implementation study, can now be used in clinical practice.