Multicenter data acquisition made easy.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Trials
• Health Informatics
• Data Management

Background:

• Multicenter trial data collection is often problematic and expensive.
• Traditional methods pose significant logistical and financial challenges.
• Exploring innovative, cost-effective solutions is crucial for efficient research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of Google Docs spreadsheet function for decentralized data collection in a multicenter trial.
• To assess the feasibility, usability, and cost-effectiveness of this digital approach.
• To determine if this method can serve as a viable alternative to existing data acquisition systems.

Main Methods:

• A decentralized data entry module was developed using Google Docs spreadsheet function.
• Forms were designed mirroring paper case record forms for data entry.
• Data was entered by site personnel and compiled into a Google Docs spreadsheet, exportable to standard formats.

Main Results:

• The system was implemented in a multicenter randomized clinical trial involving 332 patients across five hospitals.
• Data entry was performed by one individual at each study site.
• No technical issues were encountered during the data collection process.

Conclusions:

• The Google Docs spreadsheet system facilitated easy, safe, and free decentralized data entry.
• This approach demonstrated potential as a cost-effective replacement for expensive data acquisition solutions in multicenter trials.
• The system proved effective for managing data in a complex clinical trial setting.