KNOWLEDGE, SYMPTOM SEVERITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE (QOL) OF INTERNET AND TERTIARY-CARE DYSPEPSIA AND GERD PATIENT POPULATIONS

R Cawdron, D Armstrong

Division of Gastroenterology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

BACKGROUND: Internet-based educational resources may aid dyspepsia patients but significant differences between tertiary-care and internet respondents with respect to socio-economic and motivational factors may limit the success of on-line educational resources, and the viability of on-line research.
AIM: To compare clinic and internet populations' QoL, symptom severity and knowledge of their dyspepsia or GERD.
METHODS: Gastroenterology clinic patients and internet respondents with features of GERD, peptic ulcer, non-ulcer dyspepsia, H. pylori or gallstones completed a survey containing; the Dyspepsia & GERD Knowledge Questionnaire (DGKQ), the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, SF-12, and items regarding the use of patient education resources. Data were analysed using ANOVA.
RESULTS: Overall, 84 clinic and 66 internet respondents completed the surveys. Internet respondents were significantly younger and 30% more had post-secondary education (PSE) compared to clinic patients, but they had similar knowledge, symptom and QoL scores. This pattern held for females upon subgroup analysis, but male internet respondents scored higher on the DGKQ and symptom surveys despite similar QoL scores and proportions with PSE. (* p < 0.05, † p < 0.001, °p = 0.056)

SUMMARY: Internet-based questionnaires are feasible for assessing GERD and dyspepsia patient characteristics. Internet and clinic respondents have a lower QoL than the general population. Despite demographic differences, female clinic and internet respondents had comparable levels of knowledge, QoL and symptom severity. However, male clinic respondents were less knowledgeable than their Internet counterparts. Male tertiary-care GERD and dyspepsia clinic patients may benefit most from patient education initiatives.

Funded by CDHF/AstraZeneca Canada.