Electronic Data Processing, Analysis, and Reporting for Public Health Surveys Using Epi Info Alison Smith, MPH Global AIDS Program, CDC

Epi Info Public-domain software package designed for public health applications Public-domain software package designed for public health applications Used by countless practitioners and researchers around the world Used by countless practitioners and researchers around the world FREE and available for download FREE and available for download Original DOS version released in 1986 Original DOS version released in 1986 Windows version first released in 2001 Windows version first released in 2001 Latest version 3.5.1, released in 2008 Latest version 3.5.1, released in 2008

Epi 6 vs. Epi Windows Epi 6 Epi Windows Flat file Relational database (Microsoft Access) Multiple files Single file that houses all system files Not ArcView compatible ArcView compatible Requires entering syntax (no point-and-click) Point-and-click interface No longer updated or supported by CDC Regularly updated and supported by CDC

Components Menu – design of menus for integrating operations Menu – design of menus for integrating operations MakeView – design data entry screens MakeView – design data entry screens Enter – enter data Enter – enter data Analysis – manage and analyze data Analysis – manage and analyze data Epi Map – show data on maps Epi Map – show data on maps Report Generator – generates reports consisting of tables, lists and analysis results Report Generator – generates reports consisting of tables, lists and analysis results Utilities (compact DB, encryption) Utilities (compact DB, encryption) Data Compare (double data entry) Data Compare (double data entry) Statcalc (sample size calculations) Statcalc (sample size calculations)

Analyzing Data with Epi Info Data can be in any of over 20 data formats Data can be in any of over 20 data formats Access, dBASE, Excel, Epi 6, FoxPro, SAS, etc. Access, dBASE, Excel, Epi 6, FoxPro, SAS, etc. Can do both basic and advanced analysis (linear and logistic regression, complex samples, survival and Cox proportional hazards) Can do both basic and advanced analysis (linear and logistic regression, complex samples, survival and Cox proportional hazards) Results are produced as HTML and XML files Results are produced as HTML and XML files Can generate graphs (including histograms and box-whisker charts) Can generate graphs (including histograms and box-whisker charts) Can generate maps Can generate maps

Advantages Quick development of menu-based system for data entry, analysis, and reporting Quick development of menu-based system for data entry, analysis, and reporting Basic and advanced statistical epidemiological procedures Basic and advanced statistical epidemiological procedures Compatibility with other tools Compatibility with other tools Capability of supporting rich data models (relational DB) Capability of supporting rich data models (relational DB)

Disadvantages Unavailability of trained personnel Unavailability of trained personnel No handheld support No handheld support No security model No security model

How does it compare? QDS QDS Well-developed survey administration and data collection Well-developed survey administration and data collection Less intuitive specification of skip patterns and checks Less intuitive specification of skip patterns and checks Weak relational capability Weak relational capability No analytic tools (by design) No analytic tools (by design) MS Access MS Access More capable interface development (but more complicated) More capable interface development (but more complicated) Better report generator Better report generator Requires more training and experience before proficiency Requires more training and experience before proficiency Weak analytic tools Weak analytic tools

Epi Info is… One of a number of surveillance trainings available from CDC Global AIDS Program HQ One of a number of surveillance trainings available from CDC Global AIDS Program HQ Course is titled “Electronic Data Processing, Analysis, and Reporting for Public Health Surveys using Epi Info” Course is titled “Electronic Data Processing, Analysis, and Reporting for Public Health Surveys using Epi Info”

Course Overview Five day, 12-unit course designed to provide basic technical skills in Five day, 12-unit course designed to provide basic technical skills in Data processing Data processing Analysis Analysis Report writing Report writing Ultimately for the purpose of producing epidemiologic reports at the regional and national level Ultimately for the purpose of producing epidemiologic reports at the regional and national level

Overview cont. Uses Antenatal Clinic (ANC) HIV sentinel surveillance (SS) as an example Uses Antenatal Clinic (ANC) HIV sentinel surveillance (SS) as an example Participants engage in the planning and implementation of an HIV SS round in a fictitious country called Suri Participants engage in the planning and implementation of an HIV SS round in a fictitious country called Suri Course introduces best-practice techniques for systematically collecting, managing, processing, and reporting HIV data from ANCs Course introduces best-practice techniques for systematically collecting, managing, processing, and reporting HIV data from ANCs

Objectives By the end of the course, participants are able to By the end of the course, participants are able to Design easy-to-use data collection and electronic data-entry forms Design easy-to-use data collection and electronic data-entry forms Develop simple and complex check code to validate data entry Develop simple and complex check code to validate data entry Oversee and perform data entry Oversee and perform data entry Develop and document data cleaning and database storage strategies Develop and document data cleaning and database storage strategies

Objectives cont. Conduct simple exploratory analysis for data cleaning purposes Conduct simple exploratory analysis for data cleaning purposes Clean and prepare data for analysis Clean and prepare data for analysis Perform simple and complex descriptive analyses Perform simple and complex descriptive analyses Develop clear and concise national and regional reports Develop clear and concise national and regional reports

Requirements Familiarity with Epi Info not a prerequisite – starts with basic concepts and ends with intermediate-level concepts Familiarity with Epi Info not a prerequisite – starts with basic concepts and ends with intermediate-level concepts Host office is responsible for funding two trainers and all materials, and must make all arrangements (training space, computer set up, etc.) Host office is responsible for funding two trainers and all materials, and must make all arrangements (training space, computer set up, etc.)

Useful Information Download and install the latest version of Epi Info [for Windows] at Download and install the latest version of Epi Info [for Windows] at Helpline Helpline Epi Info Web Board Epi Info Web Board Manual and training exercises available online Manual and training exercises available online

Contact Information For information on the course Electronic Data Processing, Analysis, and Reporting for Public Health Surveys Using Epi Info, For information on the course Electronic Data Processing, Analysis, and Reporting for Public Health Surveys Using Epi Info, For information on other surveillance trainings available For information on other surveillance trainings available

Additional Slides

MakeView Data entry screen can be created and formatted to suit specific needs for a survey Data entry screen can be created and formatted to suit specific needs for a survey Type Type Text Text Label Label Date Date Number Number Yes/No Yes/No Others… Others… Can create skip patterns and check code for validation of data entry and reduction of errors Can create skip patterns and check code for validation of data entry and reduction of errors

Data Boundaries Number of characters in a text field = 128 Number of characters in a text field = 128 Number of characters in a multiline field = 2 GB Number of characters in a multiline field = 2 GB Number of fields per table = 255 (but limitless in a view) Number of fields per table = 255 (but limitless in a view) Number of tables in a Project (.mdb) file = limited to disk space Number of tables in a Project (.mdb) file = limited to disk space Number of records in a data table = limited to disk space Number of records in a data table = limited to disk space

Enter Data Entering data is straightforward and simple with basic training and familiarity with survey tool Entering data is straightforward and simple with basic training and familiarity with survey tool Can easily skip around among records Can easily skip around among records Find function helps easily locate records using search criteria Find function helps easily locate records using search criteria

How does it compare? (2) Survey Monkey Survey Monkey Weak survey administration and data collection Weak survey administration and data collection No analytic capabilities (by design) No analytic capabilities (by design) Data ownership issues Data ownership issues Epi Handy Epi Handy Less-developed survey administration and data collection Less-developed survey administration and data collection Limited data model Limited data model No analytic capabilities (by design) No analytic capabilities (by design)

Epi Info Basics Used by countless public health professionals around the world Used by countless public health professionals around the world Used on Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP, and Vista operating systems Used on Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP, and Vista operating systems