A personal digital assistant application (MobilDent) for dental fieldwork data collection, information management and...

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Software Engineering

Background:

• Oral health assessment fieldwork traditionally relies on manual data collection methods.
• Efficient and accurate data management is crucial for effective public health initiatives and research.
• Existing systems may lack the portability and integrated database functionality required for field assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive personal digital assistant (PDA) application, named MobilDent, for conducting oral health assessments in the field.
• To create integrated back-office and database systems to support the PDA application.
• To enhance the efficiency and accuracy of oral health data collection and management.

Main Methods:

• System design, construction, and implementation of PDA, back-office, and database components.
• Utilized Microsoft .NET components, SQL Server 2005 for data storage, and Windows Mobile OS on Dell Axim PDA devices.
• Developed user interfaces tailored for both PDA and computer screens, incorporating a synchronization module (MS Active Sync) for data transfer.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and implemented the MobilDent application with specified system functions and user interfaces.
• The PDA interface is optimized for mobile use, while the back-office interface is designed for standard computer displays.
• Data synchronization from PDA to the database was effectively established using MS Active Sync.

Conclusions:

• MobilDent is a feasible and practical application for oral health assessment fieldwork.
• The associated database offers a valuable resource for oral health care planning, education, and research.
• Future development will focus on incorporating wireless connectivity and download-on-demand capabilities.