I. Introduction
Effective communication is important in every aspect of our lives, especially when it comes to the patient-provider relationship.
In the clinical setting, it is important to have a conversation about how endometriosis is affecting women’s lives, and that requires a strong and healthy dialogue.
However, that’s not always easy, especially when it comes to women’s health.
That’s why the EndoWheel tool was created, a patient-reported, visual assessment tool that allows women to describe the burden they carry from endometriosis pain symptoms and the impact it has on their daily lives. It also helps healthcare providers better understand what their patients are experiencing.
This tool’s intuitively visual interface makes it simple and convenient for patients to track their symptoms. It allows them to address these experiences and areas of impact that they may not otherwise consider sharing, or even have the opportunity to discuss during office visits.
It’s all done by scoring 12 symptom statements.
The results are then displayed in a chart that provides a visual representation of a broad range of endometriosis disease burden, expanding beyond just pain or infertility.
Each assessment is then stored automatically for comparison over time.
II. Overview of EndoWheel Components
Let’s take a look at how the EndoWheel works…
Open the app and the EndoWheel resembles the top half of a circle that’s divided into 12 wedges or slices.
Those are the 12 symptom statements that will be scored, and rotating the wheel takes the user from one statement to the next.
Each of the 12 statements is related to 10 symptom domains reported by women with endometriosis, including pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, bowel and bladder symptoms, energy and fatigue, sexual well-being, and fertility. Domains also identify life-impact areas, such as social and recreational activities, work, school, and other daily tasks, self-image and perception, and emotional well-being.
III. A Closer Look
Now let’s complete an actual assessment and see what the results look like. We’ll then review how patients can share these insights with their healthcare provider.
The first step is registration, which is both easy and secure. It takes just a few minutes, and this data is private and stored only on the patient’s personal device.
After registering, the first assessment can begin.
IIIA. Instructional Copy
As mentioned earlier, the EndoWheel is divided into 12 sections, each associated with a corresponding symptom statement.
The first of these is Pelvic pain - Period pain with this statement: “I have been bothered by pain or discomfort in the lower part of my belly/abdomen a day or two before and/or during my period.”
This is followed by a note that provides examples of what this pain may feel like.
And at the bottom of the screen is the first wedge of the EndoWheel with the numbers 0-10. This is where patients enter the scoring.
If the response to this symptom statement is “I do not agree at all,” the patient selects “0.”
Conversely, if the response is, “I completely agree,” then the patient would select 10.
Of course, if the most appropriate response lies somewhere between these two extremes, patients can select any number between 1 and 9 that best describes their individual experience.
Once a score is entered for the first symptom statement, a simple swipe to the left takes the user to the next section of the EndoWheel and another symptom statement to score.
Simply continue in this manner until all 12 symptom statements have been scored.
When the assessment is complete, a polygon shape displays the results visually. The larger the shape, the greater the disease burden in those particular domains.
This image is automatically saved so that it can be shared with the healthcare provider during office visits. These results can even be emailed to the provider.
Of course, patients can always create additional assessments or delete existing ones at any time.
Keeping a log of assessments is helpful because it allows patients and their healthcare providers to see and share historical comparisons over time.
The EndoWheel app even allows patients to set up reminders so that they can track their symptoms on a regular basis.
IV. Conclusion
Patients and their healthcare providers can discuss how best to use the EndoWheel app, including how often to complete assessments and share the results.
o The app is available at no charge and can be downloaded on Apple or Google Play.
Reference: As-Sanie S, Laufer MR, Missmer SA, et al. Curr Med Res Opin. 2021;37(8):1443-1449.
Contact Information: AbbVie Inc. North Chicago, IL. customerservice@abbvie.com
