1. Implementing EMA Methods George Haff & Mary Witzig

2. Implementation Strategy Hardware/Software options Hardware/Software options Strategies for Success Strategies for Success –Equipment –Program/Protocol –Participant Support Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions

3. Options for Electronic Diary Hardware and Software Handheld Options: Handheld Options: –Palm –Pocket PC (“Windows Mobile” OS) –Others: Symbian, Blackberry, etc.

4. Options for Electronic Diary Hardware and Software Software Options Software Options –Satellite Forms (intellisync) –Crossfire (appforge) –Palm OS SDK

5. Options for Electronic Diary Hardware and Software Our Set-up Our Set-up –Palm Zire 71 –Satellite Forms –SF Extensions SetKey SetKey SFProgAlarm SFProgAlarm

6. Strategies for Success Equipment Equipment Program/Protocol Program/Protocol Participant Support Participant Support

7. Strategies for Success: Equipment Usability/User-Interface Usability/User-Interface –Ease of use, intuitive –Consider your audience –Pilot test! Pilot test! Pilot test!

8. Strategies for Success: Protocol/Program Build compliance into the protocol Build compliance into the protocol –Consider adherence when developing the protocol –Design protocol to facilitate collection –Consider participant/research assistant burden

9. Strategies for Success: Program/Protocol Create a sense of accountability Create a sense of accountability –Set clear expectations –Give feedback Validation Report Validation Report Program feedback in the field Program feedback in the field

10. Program Feature: Windows Discreet periods of time participants are able to record information. Discreet periods of time participants are able to record information. Useful when collecting data concurrent with time specific events (e.g., ambulatory blood pressure every 45 mins). Useful when collecting data concurrent with time specific events (e.g., ambulatory blood pressure every 45 mins). Facilitates participant compliance and promotes collection of real-time data. Facilitates participant compliance and promotes collection of real-time data.

11. Windows screen shot? Windows screen shot?

12. Strategies for Success: Program/Protocol Guide subjects through assessments Guide subjects through assessments –Eliminate guess work in the field –Program Feature: Branching

13. Program Feature: Branching Questions Program flexibility to follow a different line of questioning based on participant response. Program flexibility to follow a different line of questioning based on participant response. Eliminates guess work in the field. Eliminates guess work in the field.

14. Strategies for Success: Program/Protocol Drive the protocol Drive the protocol –Include prompts –Handheld calendar –Program Feature: Alarms

15. Program Features: Alarms Prompts participant with alarms integrated with data collection software. Prompts participant with alarms integrated with data collection software. Automatically displays first data collection screen. Automatically displays first data collection screen.

16. Strategies for Success: Program/Protocol Include Livability Functions Include Livability Functions –Allows participant to integrate data collection into life –Program Features: Delay/suspend Delay/suspend Wake/sleep Wake/sleep

17. Program Features: Delay/Suspend Used in conjunction with Windows or Alarms (prompting). Used in conjunction with Windows or Alarms (prompting). Allows participant to postpone or suspend data entry. Allows participant to postpone or suspend data entry. Increases compliance and decreases participant burden by allowing flexibility. Increases compliance and decreases participant burden by allowing flexibility.

18. Program Feature: Wake/Sleep Allows participant to suspend the program for the night while collecting wake/sleep times. Allows participant to suspend the program for the night while collecting wake/sleep times.

19. Strategies for Success: Participant Support Subject Training Subject Training Our Method: Our Method: –Training – group presentation –Practice day with ‘Shakedown’ visit –Feedback visit Practice module (???) Practice module (???)

20. Strategies for Success: Participant Support Support in the field Support in the field –Research associates ‘on call’ –Handouts –Program Feature: Problem Reports

21. Program Feature: Problem reports Enables participant to record a problem with the equipment. Enables participant to record a problem with the equipment. Give participant useful feedback to trouble shoot problem or instruct to call support staff. Give participant useful feedback to trouble shoot problem or instruct to call support staff.

22. Success Strategy Summary Plan carefully Plan carefully Pilot test! Pilot test! Pilot test! Pilot test! Pilot test! Pilot test! Set clear expectations and provide ample support for participants Set clear expectations and provide ample support for participants

23. Other Program Features

24. Program Feature: Beginning/End of Day Questions Separate questionnaire given at one point during the day. Separate questionnaire given at one point during the day. Can be used to compare EMA data to recall data. Can be used to compare EMA data to recall data.

25. Program Feature: Sync/Resync Enables diary device to be synchronized with other equipment (e.g., ambulatory blood pressure monitor). Enables diary device to be synchronized with other equipment (e.g., ambulatory blood pressure monitor). ‘Resync’ option useful to troubleshoot protocol while participant is in ‘the field’. ‘Resync’ option useful to troubleshoot protocol while participant is in ‘the field’.

26. Program Features: Event- driven entry Used to enter the time of events not controlled by the research protocol (e.g., having a cigarette or a hot flash). Used to enter the time of events not controlled by the research protocol (e.g., having a cigarette or a hot flash).