Prior to the start of the data collection, a half day training session was provided for the five data collectors, all of whom were already familiar with the paper-based tool and four of whom had personal smart phones. For comparison purposes, the same data collection tool was also developed on Microsoft Excel and used on a laptop alongside the tablet-based and paper-based methods. The electronic data collection using Filemaker® software was deployed on different sizes of iPad (cellular mini and standard) to ascertain data collector’s preferences for portability versus increased screen size. Data collection was conducted in the Western Region in seven healthcare facilities. In particular, we explore the use of paper versus electronic tools and comment on a variety of software packages including Filemaker and Excel.Ĭomparing EDC with excel® and paper-based toolsįilemaker® was used alongside a paper-based software package (Formic®), as part of an ongoing, routine healthcare facility assessment in Ghana (the Making it Happen programme). We set out what worked where and how and provider recommendations for the selection and use of electronic data collection tools and practice. This paper describes our experiences and lessons learnt with regard to implementing electronic-tablet-based data collection methods for healthcare facility assessment and to collect maternal health data from women during and after pregnancy across different settings in four LMICs. With progress in the availability and quality of electronic devices in low resource settings, alternative options for a more efficient method of data collection were explored, primarily focusing on electronic tablet-based data collection. The Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health (CMNH) at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), has supported the collection of health research data using paper-based questionnaires and surveys on a monthly or quarterly basis in more than 1000 healthcare facilities across 11 countries since 2006. These include basic ‘one question at a time’ applications designed to be used on mobile phones, to more complex packages with multi-stage, multi-user validations that can be used on laptops or desk-based computers. There are many different software packages available for collecting electronic data. Another advantage of electronic data collection is the ability to impose validation rules as data is entered (reducing the risk of human error) and the decrease in time necessary for data entry and cleaning following the data collection phase of a study. Electronic data can be transmitted securely and quickly, using existing 3G mobile phone networks or Wi-Fi connection to a remote research base, allowing data to be processed, reviewed and disseminated quickly. Įlectronic data collection has several advantages compared to paper-based collection, including enabling large volumes of data to be collected and stored securely by means of password protection and data encryption on an electronic tablet, and avoiding the need to carry and store bulky paperwork. Whilst there are reports of electronic data collection from low-income countries using mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA), there is less information regarding the feasibility, acceptability and practical challenges with the use of electronic tablets for data collection, from these settings. Alongside an increase in the development and use of computer technology, electronic data collection is increasingly being used for healthcare implementation and research in HIC. Mobile phone subscription has increased globally from 12% in 2000 to 97% in 2014, in sub-Saharan Africa it increased from 2 to 70%, and in India from 0 to 73%. In high-income countries (HIC), computerised technology and mobile electronic devices are part of daily life with 83–90% of people aged 16–54 years in the UK owning a smartphone. Globally, there has been an increase in the availability, quality and affordability of electronic mobile technology such as telephones, personal digital assistants and electronic tablets. To date, most data collection in health research in low resource settings has used paper-based data collection tools.
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