Short report: Piloting paperless data entry for clinical research in Africa.
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Date
2005-03-17
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Abstract
Direct data entry using handheld computers may simplify and streamline data management especially in remote settings We compared the accuracy of data entry using the current standard practice a paper based case report form with double data entry with that using a personal digital assistant PDA in a clinical study in rural Gabon The rate of discrepant entries was 1 7 Categorical data presented in pull down menus on the PDA were more commonly discrepant than were continuous typed in data 2 4 versus 1 2 P 0 001 Both systems functioned smoothly and no data were lost The clinicians involved in this study preferred the handheld computers and their use will be considered in future studies in an African clinical research network