Evaluating patient satisfaction and perceived accuracy in questionnaires completed before vs. during a pain clinic visit.

Abstract

Introduction: Effective assessment is essential for planning treatment in chronic pain management. This study compared patient satisfaction and perceived data accuracy between completing pre-assessment questionnaires at home versus in the clinic prior to a neuromodulation consultation.

Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, adult patients referred for neuromodulation assessment were randomized to complete intake questionnaires either at home ("Home" group) or upon arrival at the clinic ("Clinic" group). Prior the appointment, all participants completed a satisfaction survey assessing perceived accuracy, time efficiency, and preference.

Results: Forty-two patients participated (Home: 17; Clinic: 25). Overall satisfaction was not significantly different between groups (88.2% vs. 64%, p = 0.202). However, perceived response accuracy (88.2% vs. 36%, p < 0.001) and time efficiency (82.4% vs. 28%, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in the Home group. More than half of Clinic group participants stated they would have preferred to complete the questionnaires at home (52% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Completing pre-assessment questionnaires at home resulted in higher perceived accuracy and time efficiency without compromising satisfaction. These findings support incorporating remote pre-visit assessments into chronic pain clinic workflows to optimize patient experience.

Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT03852381.