Steiner, Andreas; Hella, Jerry; Grüninger, Servan; Mhalu, Grace; Mhimbira, Francis; Cercamondi, Colin I; Doulla, Basra; Maire, Nicolas; Fenner, Lukas (2016). Managing research and surveillance projects in real-time with a novel open-source eManagement tool designed for under-resourced countries. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 23(5), pp. 916-923. Oxford University Press 10.1093/jamia/ocv185
|
Text
Steiner JAmMedInformAssoc 2016.pdf - Published Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (941kB) | Preview |
|
|
Text
Steiner JAmMedInformAssoc 2016_postprint.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (663kB) | Preview |
OBJECTIVE
A software tool is developed to facilitate data entry and to monitor research projects in under-resourced countries in real-time.
METHODS
The eManagement tool "odk_planner" is written in the scripting languages PHP and Python. The odk_planner is lightweight and uses minimal internet resources. It was designed to be used with the open source software Open Data Kit (ODK). The users can easily configure odk_planner to meet their needs, and the online interface displays data collected from ODK forms in a graphically informative way. The odk_planner also allows users to upload pictures and laboratory results and sends text messages automatically. User-defined access rights protect data and privacy.
RESULTS
We present examples from four field applications in Tanzania successfully using the eManagement tool: 1) clinical trial; 2) longitudinal Tuberculosis (TB) Cohort Study with a complex visit schedule, where it was used to graphically display missing case report forms, upload digitalized X-rays, and send text message reminders to patients; 3) intervention study to improve TB case detection, carried out at pharmacies: a tablet-based electronic referral system monitored referred patients, and sent automated messages to remind pharmacy clients to visit a TB Clinic; and 4) TB retreatment case monitoring designed to improve drug resistance surveillance: clinicians at four public TB clinics and lab technicians at the TB reference laboratory used a smartphone-based application that tracked sputum samples, and collected clinical and laboratory data.
CONCLUSIONS
The user friendly, open source odk_planner is a simple, but multi-functional, Web-based eManagement tool with add-ons that helps researchers conduct studies in under-resourced countries.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) |
UniBE Contributor: |
Fenner, Lukas |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services |
ISSN: |
1067-5027 |
Publisher: |
Oxford University Press |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Doris Kopp Heim |
Date Deposited: |
09 Feb 2017 12:02 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 15:02 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1093/jamia/ocv185 |
PubMed ID: |
26911813 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Open Data Kit data management tool electronic data entry open-source software paperless real-time monitoring |
BORIS DOI: |
10.7892/boris.95438 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/95438 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit item |