Paper-based data collection for prospective clinical trials is associated with a poor quality of data collection. This typically involves missing or wrong data entry or a low recruitment rate, mainly due to the cumbersome and uncontrolled data collection. Electronic data collection is associated with improved quality of data entry in the cases of Electronic Patient Records (EPR) and patient handover among doctors during night and day shifts. However, a comprehensive direct comparison between web-based desktop personal computer (PC) and mobile (e.g. iPad) data collection has not yet been reported. The purpose of this prospective trial is to compare the users' experience with the web-based desktop PC and mobile data collection (iPad) tools.
The investigators designed a prospective randomized controlled trial where doctors from several randomly selected hospitals will use either a desktop PC or mobile (iPad) data collection tool. A validated user experience evaluation instrument will be used at the beginning, during interim analysis and at the end of the trial. The desktop-based data collection is built on Drupal, a renowned open source content management system (CMS). The same CMS will be used with a special interface designed for iOS/iPad. Both data collection platforms will be used in parallel to a prospective clinical trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
A validated user experience evaluation questionnaire will be completed by each participant in the beginning, at the interim period, and at the end of the trial
University of St. Gallen, Institute of Information Managemen
Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
University Hospital Zurich, Department of Surgery
Zurich, Switzerland
Evaluation score
A validated user experience and evaluation instrument will be used. The overall score will be compared between the Desktop PC and Mobile (iPad) data collection tools. PC: indicates Personal Computer
Time frame: 2 years
Recruitment rate
The recruitment rate is defined as the proportion of patients recruited divided by the total number of patients recruited + patients missed: (rate=recruited/(recruited+missed). The recruitment rates will be compared between the Desktop PC and Mobile (iPad) data collection tools. PC: indicates Personal Computer
Time frame: 2 years
Cost-effectiveness analysis
Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a form of economic analysis that compares the relative costs and outcomes (effects) of two or more courses of action. CEA assigns a monetary value to the measure of effect. Typically the CEA is expressed in terms of a ratio where the denominator is a gain from a measure and the numerator is the cost associated with this gain. In this study, CEA will be calculated as: (ratio=costs/evaluation score) and (ratio=costs/recruitment rate).
Time frame: 2 years
Cost-benefit analysis
Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a systematic process for calculating and comparing benefits and costs of a project for two purposes; in order to determine if it is a sound investment (justification/feasibility), and to see how it compares with alternate projects (ranking/priority assignment). It involves comparing the total expected cost of each option against the total expected benefits, to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs, and by how much. In CBA, benefits and costs are expressed in money terms, and are adjusted for the "time value of money".
Time frame: 2 years
Cost-utility analysis
Cost-utility analysis (CUA) is a form of financial analysis used to guide procurement decisions. The most common and well-known application of this analysis is in health technology assessment. Cost is measured in monetary units.
Time frame: 2 years
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