Design and evaluation of a flexible web-based screening service for clinimetrics

Clinimetrics is gaining significance in health related and clinical disciplines. However, obtaining and accessing outcome measures in a flexible manner is an issue because of difficult-to-use programs, fixed instruments and poor access to tools and results. Hence, we developed and evaluated a novel Software-as-a-Service to create, share, conduct and manage clinical screenings and tests. The service supports a wide variety of screening instruments. These instruments can then be used in a wide variety of ways: online and offline; on smartphone, tablet and computer; guided by a professional, or self-assessed. Both tests and results can be managed and shared among peers and patients. New screenings can be designed based on standardized instruments or tailored to outcome measure requirements. The service, called ReQuest, was successfully implemented in multiple research projects. Evaluation results show good acceptance in elderly asked to use the system for self-assessments. Researchers who use the service to conduct and manage screenings, value (i) secure on-site storage, (ii) the flexibility in which they can create or reuse screenings and (iii) sharing screenings with others.