Automated Data Management System for Remote Medical Studies

摘要

Effective verification, analysis and management of medical research data in remote sites create a unique challenge for members of the research community. The recent use of microcomputer hardware and software has eliminated many data management problems, but it is difficult to implement this technology at remote sites with small staffs who have little familiarity with computers. An automated data management system, which utilizes a portable microcomputer, a small optical mark reader and commercially available software, eliminates many data entry and verification problems by allowing direct data entry from full page forms into the microcomputer without keyboard entry. The elimination of manual data entry allows the local staff to be more productive and spend more time on quality control of the data. This system has been sucessfully used in clinical trials conducted in Argentina and the Peoples Republic of China and shows great promise as an effective data management tool at field-study and remote epidemiological research sites.