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Related Experiment Videos

Electronic versus paper instruments for daily data collection.

Johannes1, Woods, Crawford

  • 1New England Research Institutes, Watertown, MA, USA

Annals of Epidemiology
|October 6, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Electronic diaries on hand-held computers (H/PC) significantly reduce missing data and errors compared to paper logs. This efficient method improves data accuracy and timeliness for health research, with most users preferring the electronic approach.

Area of Science:

  • Health Informatics
  • Medical Data Collection
  • Digital Health

Background:

  • Traditional paper-based daily health data collection is prone to errors, missing entries, and retrospective inaccuracies.
  • Recurring health events like menstrual bleeding, headaches, and insulin levels require accurate, timely tracking for effective management and research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate electronic data collection using hand-held personal computers (H/PC) for health-related applications.
  • To improve the accuracy and timeliness of daily health data collection compared to traditional paper methods.
  • To assess user preferences for electronic versus paper data collection tools.

Main Methods:

  • A prototype electronic diary, ProCycle, was developed for daily tracking of menstrual bleeding, medications, and symptoms.

Related Experiment Videos

  • A 3-month pilot study compared ProCycle's performance against paper calendars in 25 women.
  • Key metrics included missing/incorrect data, data entry lag, cleaning time, and user preferences; additional field tests were conducted for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), fertility, and headache tracking.

    • Main Results:

    • ProCycle significantly reduced missing data (4% vs. 35%, p < 0.05) and eliminated recording errors common in paper calendars (0% vs. 13%).
    • Data entry and cleaning time were reduced by 81% with ProCycle.
    • A substantial majority of users (70%) preferred ProCycle over paper (9%, p < 0.01).

    Conclusions:

    • Electronic data collection using H/PC offers a more efficient and accurate method for health research requiring daily tracking.
    • Despite higher initial costs, H/PC systems eliminate recurring printing and data entry charges, with minimal data cleaning needs.
    • This technology is broadly applicable to various health research areas necessitating precise, timely daily data capture.