Released on: June 20, 2008, 3:11 am

Press Release Author: The Scott Partnership

Industry:

Press Release Summary: (20 June, 2008) Exco InTouch announces the availability of
its new technical
paper, \'Electronic Data Capture Using the WOMAC NRS 3.1 Index: a Pilot Study
of Cellular Technology in OA\'. The informative new poster has been developed
with the Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation
Medicine (CONROD) at the University of Queensland and focuses on a
preliminary evaluation of cellular technology in capturing the Western
Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) NRS 3.1 Index data
using mobile telephones. The poster details methods for mobile phone
selection for the WOMAC Index, and identifies high levels of correlation
between manual and electronic data capture (EDC) for the index, with no
statistically significant differences between the methods. This new poster
is available free of charge in downloadable PDF format via
www.excointouch.com.


Press Release Body: Exco InTouch Announces the Availability of New Technical Paper
on Electronic
Data Capture Using the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index

(20 June, 2008) Exco InTouch announces the availability of its new technical
paper, \'Electronic Data Capture Using the WOMAC NRS 3.1 Index: a Pilot Study
of Cellular Technology in OA\'. The informative new poster has been developed
with the Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation
Medicine (CONROD) at the University of Queensland and focuses on a
preliminary evaluation of cellular technology in capturing the Western
Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) NRS 3.1 Index data
using mobile telephones. The poster details methods for mobile phone
selection for the WOMAC Index, and identifies high levels of correlation
between manual and electronic data capture (EDC) for the index, with no
statistically significant differences between the methods. This new poster
is available free of charge in downloadable PDF format via
www.excointouch.com.

Mobile technology is increasingly used in healthcare applications and can
facilitate patient self-reporting and the completion of EDC questionnaires.
The new technical poster from Exco InTouch describes the evaluation of an
alternative approach to EDC in osteoarthritis, using appropriately-enabled
mobile phones to capture the same data. Exco InTouch has developed a
Java-based application of the WOMAC NRS 3.1 Index, m-WOMAC, enabling
patients to quickly and easily complete EDC using the WOMAC Index via a
mobile phone.

The WOMAC Index is a validated instrument for assessing hip and knee
osteoarthritis. It is a self-assessment questionnaire and includes questions
on pain, stiffness, and physical function such as walking ability.
Patient-reported outcomes using standardised, validated outcome measures are
usually presented in paper format for the patient\'s self-completion.
However, this method requires clinic attendance and has traditionally
required the manual transcription of the data from paper to an electronic
database.

m-WOMAC from Exco InTouch was developed directly from the original
paper-based version of the questionnaire, and has been reviewed and approved
for use by the originator of the WOMAC Index. During the evaluation, mobile
phones were reviewed in Australia, Canada and the UK, and one phone was
identified for suitability from each of the three major international
brands: Nokia, Motorola and Samsung. Patients with hip and knee
osteoarthritis successfully completed EDC through cellular technology using
m-WOMAC and the completion time was recorded automatically and compared with
the time to complete the paper-based questionnaire. The results demonstrated
that this new method is more convenient to patients, higher in efficiency
and can be applied to clinical practice, disability management and clinical
research situations.

Exco InTouch\'s work with the WOMAC index provides a complement to the
company\'s current mobile EDC solutions. Using Exco InTouch\'s technology,
unique messages are sent to a patient\'s mobile phone. Any reply the patient
enters must be preceded with their unique PIN code which links the patient
to the response and ensures complete data security. All data collected is
available in real time for the appropriate stakeholders to view and read via
a secure website.

For further information on the Exco InTouch and to download the poster,
please visit www.excointouch.com. Alternatively please call +44 1279 408 210
or +1 949 725 2946.

-ENDS-

For further press information please contact: Eleanor CallanMonk, The Scott
Partnership, 1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 8AA Tel:
+44 1477 539539 Fax: +44 1477 539540 e-mail: exco@scottpr.com


Web Site: http://

Contact Details: Eleanor CallanMonk, The Scott
Partnership, 1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 8AA Tel:
+44 1477 539539 Fax: +44 1477 539540 e-mail: exco@scottpr.com