Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Module 10 of 10 A Complete Case Study Jeffrey Shaffer, Ph.D. Using Mobile Technologies to Conduct PDA-Based Surveys in Remote Areas Part II: Electronic Form Design and Data Management Methods

Module 7 PDA-Based Electronic Form Design I Electronic Form Design and Data Management Methods Module 8 PDA-Based Electronic Form Design II Module 9 Data Preparation, Management, and Visualization Module 10 Module 6 Motivation and Practices

For a given study description and research question, 1. Outline a plan for developing PDA-based electronic forms for conducting a household survey. 2. Develop a paper-based questionnaire. 3. Construct a PDA-based e-form. 4. Enter data into the e-form, and upload the resulting table onto a PC. Module 10 Learning Objectives Module 10

Consider a research project to study diabetes prevalence in a remote area consisting of 10 villages. The area is fairly isolated with unpaved roads and no electricity. The study objectives are to: 1.Determine diabetes prevalence for all 10 villages. 2.Compare the diabetes prevalence among the 10 villages. 3.Link diabetes prevalence among the 10 villages to several factors, including body mass index and knowledge about risk factors for diabetes. Research Question Module 10

The study will involve visiting each of the households for all 10 villages and drawing a blood sample for each household member who is at least 18 years of age. The primary outcome is plasma glucose level (mg/dL) resulting from a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test. Other data to be collected for Objective 3 include: Height Income Education level Measures of knowledge about risk factors for diabetes. Research Question Module 10 Gender Weight

A PDA-based survey seems to be appropriate as: the study is in a remote area with unpaved roads, thus small, portable equipment is essential; the study location has no electricity, so battery life for all electronic devices should be maximized; and the survey questions seem to require only brief, closed-ended responses, so small, touchpad keyboards should suffice for recording survey responses. Should a PDA-Based Survey be Used? Module 10

After deciding that a PDA-based survey is appropriate, devise a sequential plan for its implementation: 1. Choose the e-form software. 2. Choose the data synchronization software. 3. Write a paper-based form. 4. Assess the data structure, and determine the appropriate number of e-forms. 5. Develop the mobile table(s). Outline a Plan Module 10

6. Develop the e-form(s). 7. Download the e-form to the PDA. 8. Perform the survey, and collect the data. 9. Upload the mobile table to a PC. 10. Import the mobile table into Microsoft Excel for analysis. Outline a Plan Module 10

Suppose that PDAs with Windows Mobile operating systems will be used to conduct the survey, and the data will be analyzed using PCs with Windows 7 operating systems. Based on the cost, compatibility, functionality, customer support, and available documentation, the Visual CE e-Form software ( is chosen to develop the mobile-based e-forms. 1. Choose the e-form software Module 10

Since data will be analyzed using PCs with Windows 7 operating systems, the Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) will be used for file synchronization between the PDA and PC. 2. Choose the Data Synchronization Software Module 10

The paper-based form should include the questions and response types for each item to be included on the e- form. Begin by listing the identifiers, the primary outcome, and other measures to be collected. Identifiers: Village Household Date of collection 3. Write a paper based form. Module 10

Patient characteristics: Gender Height Weight Education level Knowledge about diabetes: Awareness of diabetes Awareness of risk factors for diabetes Primary outcome: Glucose level Comments 3. Write a paper based form. Module 10

3. Write a paper based form. Module 10

The hierarchical structure of the data consists of three levels: Village Household Patient 4. Assess the data structure, and determine the appropriate number of forms. Module 10

Since the village and household-level data being collected only involve identifiers, a single form is appropriate. The drawback to a single form is that village and household numbers need to be repeated for each subject in the same household. Module Assess the data structure, and determine the appropriate number of forms.

Begin by defining a variable name and format for each of the questions listed in the paper form. It is good practice to assign text formats to identifiers to permit leading zeros and hyphenation. Note that numeric values recorded in text format can be converted to numeric variables at a later time. 5. Develop the mobile table. Module 10

QuestionVariable nameFormat 1 villageText 2 hholdText 3 date1Date/Time 4 genderText 5 heightText 6 weightText 7 educText 8 dknowText 9 driskynText 10 driskoText 11 glucoseText 12 comments Memo 5. Develop the mobile table. Module 10

5. Develop the mobile table. Module 10

First, determine the control type for each question as follows: QuestionResponse formatControl Type 11, 2, …, 10Edit box 2 1, 2, ……Edit box 3mm/dd/yyTimestamp 4 Male/Female Radio button 5 1, 2, …..Edit box 6 1, 2, ….. Edit box 6. Develop the e-form. Module 10

QuestionResponse formatControl Type 7 1, 2, ….. Edit box 8 Yes/No Radio button 9 Yes/No Radio button 10 Open-ended Edit box 11 >0 Edit box 12 Open-ended Note box 6. Develop the e-form. Module 10

Where appropriate, clearly define the units of measure for each variable to standardize how the data is entered. Choose units that respondents and interviewers are accustomed to. Question Variable Name Unit of measure 5 Height inches 6 Weight pounds 7 Education level years 11 Glucose mg/dL 6. Develop the e-form. Module 10

It is convenient to use the form wizard to create an initial form. To do this, choose Yes for the dialog box shown below. 6. Develop the e-form. Module 10

The form wizard associates each box on the form with a variable in the underlying table. Check the order of the boxes, and set the control order such that the tab control may be used to navigate through each of the boxes sequentially. The form wizard initially sets the control order in the same order as the mobile table. Note that the order of the labels is not important. 6. Develop the e-form. Module 10

Using the paper- based form as a guide, type the questions into the label boxes: 6. Develop the e-form. Module 10

Change the control type for date1 to Timestamp and those for Questions 4, 8, and 9 to radio button. 6. Develop the e-form. Module 10

Finish the form by adjusting the alignments and sizes for the labels and controls. Set the font size to 9. Set the font type for the labels as bold. 6. Develop the e-form. Module 10

7. Download the e-form to the PDA. Module 10

8. Perform the survey, and collect the data. Module 10

Module 9 9. Upload the mobile table to a PC. Your desktop

10. Finally, import the table into Microsoft Excel for analysis. Module 10

Which of the following should be considered to determine the appropriate number of e-forms for a PDA- based survey? A. The scale of the primary outcome. B. The tab order of the controls. C. The total number of questions in the survey. D. The hierarchical structure of the data. E. None of the above. Module 9 A Complete Case Study

Which of the following should be considered to determine the appropriate number of e-forms for a PDA- based survey? A. The scale of the primary outcome. B. The tab order of the controls. C. The total number of questions in the survey. D. The hierarchical structure of the data. E. None of the above. Module 9 A Complete Case Study

For a given study description and research question, 1. Outline a plan for developing PDA-based electronic forms for conducting a household survey. 2. Develop a paper-based questionnaire. 3. Construct a PDA-based e-form. 4. Enter data into the e-form, and upload the resulting table onto a PC. Module 10 Learning Objectives Module 10

A hands-on demonstration of creating a mobile table and using Visual CE’s form wizard to create an e- form is next. Hands-On Demonstration Module 9

This concludes the course modules. Please refer to the course manual for detailed descriptions of the concepts covered in the course. A short test is provided to assess your knowledge of the course concepts. Thanks for your participation! What’s Next? Module 9

Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Module 10 of 10 A Complete Case Study Jeffrey Shaffer, Ph.D. Using Mobile Technologies to Conduct PDA-Based Surveys in Remote Areas Part II: Electronic Form Design and Data Management Methods