PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Data Collection”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Web-based data collection: detailed methods of a questionnaire and data gathering tool.

There have been dramatic advances in the development of web-based data collection instruments. This paper outlines a systematic web-based approach to facilitate this process through locally developed code and to describe the results of using this process after two years of data collection. We provide a detailed example of a web-based method that we developed for a study in Starr County, Texas, assessing high school students' work and health status. This web-based application includes data instrument design, data entry and management, and data tables needed to store the results that attempt to maximize the advantages of this data collection method. The software also efficiently produces a coding manual, web-based statistical summary and crosstab reports, as well as input templates for use by statistical packages.Overall, web-based data entry using a dynamic approach proved to be a very efficient and effective data collection system. This data collection method expedited data processing and analysis and eliminated the need for cumbersome and expensive transfer and tracking of forms, data entry, and verification. The code has been made available for non-profit use only to the public health research community as a free download..

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving data collection strategies.

The authors examined 21 major health data systems of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and concluded that data on Hispanics are not included in several Departmental national health data collection systems, and that even when collected, data on Hispanic subpopulations are found in few of the systems. Of the 21 data systems, 6 do not collect Hispanic population data, including the Medicare statistical system. Only the National Vital Statistics System was found to collect data for all major Hispanic subpopulation groups. Seventeen of the 21 data systems do not collect sample sizes adequate for analyzing any one of the four major Hispanic subpopulation groups. To address that lack, Hispanic health leadership agendas have recommended collecting data on Hispanics in all systems, where possible, to provide samples of a size adequate for detailed analysis of Hispanic subpopulation groups, for support of researchers and a Hispanic research infrastructure, and for broad dissemination of data findings, including dissemination in useful formats to Hispanic community-based organizations.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1995

Modern image capture and data collection technology.

Computer data collection technology is intended to facilitate patient management and clinic administration. The systems should be devised for ease of usage and careful consideration should be given to the core set of data required and the task to be performed by the system. Security of data is important, and it must cover not only the inadvertent access to confidential data, but also must stop corrupt data from entering the system. Audit is becoming increasingly important, and the ability to achieve this should be inbuilt into any data collection system. A staged introduction of these systems is suggested without trying to achieve too much at the initial attempt. Adaptability is important so that as new technologies are introduced, the old systems should not be made redundant. Eventually it should be possible to achieve the goals set, and include fields for image capture of the colposcopic findings, which although not an essential requirement for such systems, is certainly a desirable one.

Colposcopes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isualization and analysis of large data collections: a case study applied to confocal microscopy data.

In this paper we propose an approach in which interactive visualization and analysis are combined with batch tools for the processing of large data collections. Large and heterogeneous data collections are difficult to analyze and pose specific problems to interactive visualization. Application of the traditional interactive processing and visualization approaches as well as batch processing encounter considerable drawbacks for such large and heterogeneous data collections due to the amount and type of data. Computing resources are not sufficient for interactive exploration of the data and automated analysis has the disadvantage that the user has only limited control and feedback on the analysis process. In our approach, an analysis procedure with features and attributes of interest for the analysis is defined interactively. This procedure is used for off-line processing of large collections of data sets. The results of the batch process along with "visual summaries" are used for further analysis. Visualization is not only used for the presentation of the result, but also as a tool to monitor the validity and quality of the operations performed during the batch process. Operations such as feature extraction and attribute calculation of the collected data sets are validated by visual inspection. This approach is illustrated by an extensive case study, in which a collection of confocal microscopy data sets is analyzed.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Caries data collected from public health records compared with data based on examinations by trained examiners.

Collecting data for dental caries studies is costly. In countries where uniform patient records are available for virtually the whole population, it is tempting to use them as a data source. Our aim was to compare data collected from patient records to those obtained by trained examiners. In 1992 and 1995, dentists who were specially trained and calibrated examined random samples of 12- and 15-year-olds living in two towns in Finland. The dental record of each child was obtained from public dental clinics, the dental status was entered into a computer file, and the DMFS value was calculated. Data were available for 824 children. In the two data sets, 1.3% of the tooth surfaces were recorded differently (DMF vs. sound) with the related kappa value being 0.70. In two thirds of the discrepancies, the reason was that a filling was marked in only one of them, which confirms the known difficulty in discerning a white filling. For 48% of the subjects, the DMFS values calculated from the two sets of data were equal. The difference was 1 and 2 surfaces for 28 and 11%, respectively. Public health dentists had almost equally often registered more and less DMF surfaces compared to trained examiners. The results suggest that data collected from public health records are not decisively inferior to those obtained from examinations by trained examiners. In large enough settings, data obtained from patient records could possibly be used as a replacement for separate surveys.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Obstruction of valid race/ethnicity data acquisition by current data collection instruments.

Methods of collecting race/ethnicity data affect the validity of conclusions based on them as do other factors such as lack of consensus and inadequate definitions for terminology; and misclassification or miscounting of patients. Current data collection instruments do not identify mixed heritage. We propose improving data measurement and collection by including a quantified multiracial/multiethnic heritage category for persons of mixed heritage; a don't know category; and a refuse to reveal category. The resulting problems affect all uses of racial and ethnic data, including health care provision, research, and health planning. More precise race/ethnicity categories should be encouraged by such means as a 16-category checklist (with instructions to check all which apply) currently in development. The Methods section of all clinical, epidemiologic, and pharmacologic reports should include descriptions of racial measurement and reasons for including or excluding clearly defined populations.

Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic↗
PubMed1984

A low-cost chromatograph data-collection system.

A data collection system has been constructed, based on the low-cost BBC microcomputer, which provides for the digitization and storage of the data from one or more g.l.c. or h.p.l.c. instruments, or from other data sources with similar data rates. The data can be observed during collection on the graphics screen, and are then stored on disk for subsequent processing. This processing is designed to be interactive, so that the operator can influence decisions about base-line drifts, peak separations, etc. when integrating the peaks, and can decide which peaks are to be stored in a time/intensity record, on the basis of a visual display of the trace. A low cost multi-channel precision ADC, using isolated voltage-to-frequency transducers sited at the sources of data, and multiple counters at the computer, may be used to measure several signals simultaneously even when they originate at some distance from the computer, and extra memory can also be added to the BBC microcomputer to allow temporary storage of data. The software is written in machine code (for the data collection) and BASIC (for the analysis routines) so that modifications to the latter routines can be made easily. The user interface is suitable for routine users who have no computing experience.

Chromatography↗
PubMed2004

Surveying minorities with limited-English proficiency: does data collection method affect data quality among Asian Americans?

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how modes of survey administration affect response rates and data quality among populations with limited-English proficiency (LEP). Asian Americans are a rapidly growing minority group with large numbers of LEP immigrants. OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the response rates and data quality of interviewer-administered telephone and self-administered mail surveys among LEP Asian Americans. DESIGN: This was a randomized, cross-sectional study using a 78-item survey about quality of medical care that was given to Vietnamese, Mandarin, or Cantonese Chinese patients in their native language. MEASURES: We examined response rates and missing data by mode of survey and language groups. To examine nonresponse bias, we compared the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and nonrespondents. To assess response patterns, we compared the internal-consistency reliability coefficients across modes and language groups. RESULTS: We achieved an overall response rate of 67% (322 responses of 479 patients surveyed). A higher response rate was achieved by phone interviews (75%) as compared with mail surveys with telephone reminder calls (59%). There were no significant differences in response rates by language group. The mean number of missing item for the mail mode was 4.14 versus 1.67 for the phone mode (P< or =0.000). There were no significant differences in missing data among the language groups and no significant differences in scale reliability coefficients by modes or language groups. CONCLUSIONS: Telephone interviews and mail surveys with phone reminder calls are feasible options to survey LEP Chinese and Vietnamese Americans. These methods may be less costly and labor-intensive ways to include LEP minorities in research.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Global registries for measuring pharmacoeconomic and quality-of-life outcomes: focus on design and data collection, analysis and interpretation.

Disease registries have traditionally been vehicles for the collection of clinical data, in most instances following a large number of patients for a long time period in an observational manner, and enhancing our understanding of disease aetiology and epidemiology. However, over recent decades, the potential for additional data collection and analyses to be conducted within the framework of a registry has been recognised and utilised. This is evident by the sheer number of registries that are now referenced in the medical literature, covering a vast array of therapeutic areas and topics much more varied than incidence, prevalence and survival. The opportunity to collect QOL and pharmacoeconomic data has been utilised within the registry framework as more and more countries have increased their demands for such information for regulatory procedures, including pricing and reimbursement decisions. This increased need for information has led to a marked increase in the number of registries undertaken that are primarily sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. Disease registries offer tremendous opportunities to realise improvements in care. The length of data collection and the large number of patients involved offer some unusual advantages for QOL and health economic analyses; however, these advantages are not yet fully exploited.

Data Collection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morbidity data collection in general practice: experience in the South Eastern Health Board 1998-1999.

A joint project between general practitioners and the South Eastern Health Board resulted in the establishment of a network of computerised practices collecting morbidity data in 1998 - 1999. Five practices established age sex registers for public and private patients. The International Classification of Primary Care 2 (ICPC-2) was used to define inclusion criteria for a range of illnesses relevant to primary care and public health. Problems arose in validating and extracting data in three practices. Disease prevalence for 17 illnesses was established for two practices only. The project clearly established the problems associated with morbidity data collection in general practice which include absence of a national patient registration system, absence of a national electronic messaging standard, difficulties extracting data from practice software systems and the need for a high level of dedicated staff and resources to implement such a project.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Focus group interviews as a data collecting strategy.

BACKGROUND: Focus group interviews are a method for collecting qualitative data and have enjoyed a surge in popularity in health care research over the last 20 years. However, the literature on this method is ambiguous in relation to the size, constitution, purpose and execution of focus groups. AIM: The aim of this article is to explore some of the methodological issues arising from using focus group interviews in order to stimulate debate about their efficacy. DISCUSSION: Methodological issues are discussed in the context of a study examining attitudes towards and beliefs about older adults in hospital settings among first-level registered nurses, nursing lecturers and student nurses. Focus group interviews were used to identify everyday language and constructs used by nurses, with the intention of incorporating the findings into an instrument to measure attitudes and beliefs quantitatively. CONCLUSIONS: Experiences of conducting focus group interviews demonstrated that smaller groups were more manageable and that groups made up of strangers required more moderator intervention. However, as a data collecting strategy they are a rich source of information.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

The reliability of drug use data collected in the classroom: what is the problem, why does it matter and how should it be approached?

Difficulties in collecting reliable data on drug use in the context of an exploratory trial of a drug prevention intervention have led to a consideration of the wider issues of the reliability of routinely collected data. A problem is identified, and although its magnitude cannot currently be described, its nature and possible significance are considered. In this methodological discussion, significant practical and ethical issues are explored, including some of the complexities inherent in conducting research on drug use in schools, along with the need to develop improved methods of study which address the specific challenges posed by the school environment. Implications for the development of effective drug prevention interventions in schools are also examined.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1992

Data collection: are social workers reliable?

Social workers are required to collect a considerable amount of personal information about clients and their families which may be unrelated to direct clinical work. Administrators often use this for the purpose of payment, service documentation, agency planning, and accountability. The worker's concern about the appropriateness of collecting this data may result in poor compliance or even falsification of information. In a survey of Minnesota social workers, noncompliance with data collection requirements was substantial. The authors also found a significant degree of conflict about privacy and confidentiality issues. These findings suggest a basis of concern for those who must rely on accurate data for administrative planning.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1997

Special Olympics, special smiles: assessing the feasibility of epidemiologic data collection.

No comprehensive national study has ever been completed on the oral health status of people with disabilities, their patterns of use of oral health services and access-to-care barriers. The authors describe the Special Olympics, Special Smiles program, conducted as part of the New Jersey Summer Special Olympics Games, and assess a pilot-tested model for collecting epidemiologic data. The results of this initial data collection are also compared with the goals of the U.S. Public Health Service, as outlined in the Healthy People 2000 publication.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Vector-borne parasitic diseases: new trends in data collection and risk assessment.

Climates and topography effectively restrict vector-borne infections to certain geographical areas, a clear illustration of how strongly the spatial distributions of these diseases rely on environmental factors. This is hardly a new revelation, but just a few years back, without the support of computer-assisted collection and handling of data, we were far less able to grasp the full picture. Fortunately climate data collection by Remote Sensing (RS) by earth-observing satellites, a technology particularly well suited to pinpointing constraining endemic factors, has not only become affordable but also reached a high degree of sophistication. Meanwhile, geographical information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) permit spatial information of great accuracy as well as digitalization of collected data on the spot enabling visualization of the data in relation to physical maps and facilitating comparisons of the results of longitudinal investigations. Adoption of these technologies at the national level promotes intersectoral collaboration and promises improved planning and management in the control of endemic diseases. Applications in areas such as malaria, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, trypanosomiasis and schistosomiasis are briefly reviewed. Reports in the fields of the former two diseases dominate the literature, while information is lagging with regard to the others. The need for a broadening of the GIS approach is emphasized with the aim of rejuvenating the dynamic aspect of epidemiological studies.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The relative costs and benefits of telephone interviews versus self-administered diaries for daily data collection.

This article compares two methods of collecting daily data: self-administered diaries and telephone interviews. Study participants included 44 men and 56 women between the ages of 16 and 35 who participated in a larger study of drinking, drug use, and sexual activity. Participants were randomly assigned to either the written diary or the telephone interview conditions; question wording and format were identical in both conditions. Daily data were collected for a period of 8 weeks. Results indicate that although telephone interviews resulted in slightly more missed days of data collection, they generally yielded less item-level missing data, produced cleaner data and therefore were less costly to process, and were as palatable to participants as self-administered diaries. Except for reports of drinking and vegetable consumption, telephone and diary conditions did not differ in the amount of behavior reported; more drinking and vegetable consumption were reported with telephone interviews, however. Telephone interviews also imposed considerably higher overall personnel costs.

Adolescent↗