A patient-completed and optically read data acquisition system for clinical trials

Data collection and management within multicentre clinical trials can be challenging. We describe an adaptation of Teleform® technology to enable data recording by patients and their families on teleforms faxed and optically read directly into an electronic database, eliminating the need for case report forms. Preliminary results from a modest study sample size support the use of optically read forms for data collection by patients and their families, requiring only a pen, paper, and fax machine at participating sites.