UTILIZING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY FOR PAPERLESS DATA COLLECTION AND REAL TIME MONITORING OF RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism 2017-10, Vol.71 (Suppl. 2), p.289
• Main Authors: Rahman, Qazi Sadeq-ur, Huda, Tanvir Mahmudul, Rahman, Mohammad Masudur, Raihana, Shahreen, Hossain, AKM Tanvir, Jaman, Md Jahiduj, Tahsina, Tazeen, Islam, Sajia, El Arifeen, Shams, Dibley, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access control; Computer programs; Cybersecurity; Data collection; Data entry; Data management; Data processing; Digital data; Global positioning systems; GPS; Households; Innovations; Medical research; Mobile operating systems; Monitoring; Pregnancy; Public health; Real time; Research projects; Rural communities; Smartphones; Software; Tablet computers; Tracking systems
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000480486

Background and objectives: Real time data collection and management is crucial for public health research. A centralized data capturing mechanism using tablet and web based application was implemented in a large community based trial in rural Bangladesh where information was collected from 35,372 pregnant women. The goal of designing such a data capturing and storing system was to introduce an advanced tab-based technology for real time, error free and cost effective, and data collection and reporting mechanism. Methods: A paper-less data management software was centrally developed for data collection, and transmission, to central server for monitoring and field management. All data collection variables were incorporated into the smartphone [with Symbian operating system (OS)] and tablets (with Android OS) with internet enabled SIM card. Separate software were developed for the smartphone and tablets. All types of display and validation conditions were built into the software to prevent errors and ensure logical flow, range check, uniqueness check and skip-rules. Data were stored locally in the tablet during interview. Data coollectors upload data daily to a central server to create a pooled central database. For real time monitoring and supervision, a separate web-browser based interface was developed. Password protected login identifications and audits were incorporated to ensure data safety. Results: Such a digital data capturing system ensured high quality, reliable data. This allowed evasion of conventional way of manual data entry, data filing and stocking. A built-in GPS tracking system helped data collector and investigators to locate the respondent's households, reducing the barrier of distance. Any mismatch in data could be easily detected and traced using unique identifiers, and accordingly respondent specific corrections were made. A back-up copy of the entre database were stored in a separate server in a different physical location to ensure data protection. Conclusions: We have developed an application for Symbian, Android operating system and web platform to assist research activities. Quality, complete and timely data collection from a large community based trial is unprecedented in rural Bangladesh. This innovation ensured quality data capturing by reasonably educated workforce at point of contact in an integrated manner.