android based data collection in a nutritional survey:a feasibility study in chad
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France Broillet and Ludovic RosselTRANSCRIPT
Android based data collection in a nutritional survey:a feasibility study in Chad
Introduction
Household surveys are regularly carried out in difficult
environments by MSF. Objectives are becoming ambitious,
questionnaires are longer and more complex.
New technologies such as tablets and electronic questionnaires
offer a potential to save time and money compared to paper
based data collection while also improving data quality and
allowing immediate data control.
For these reasons, MSF decided to evaluate the feasibility of
using touch-screen questionnaires in a regular nutritional survey
in Chad.
AimEvaluate the feasibility of electronic data collection for household
surveys in difficult environments, in particular in relation to
handling and acceptance by staff, technical constraints, data
collection, management and quality.
Method
There were 5 teams of 2 surveyors with a car at disposal.
In each team, one surveyor worked with paper based
questionnaires, the other with Nexus 07 Android 4.1 tablet. To
recharge the tablets, an external battery was provided, to be
charged during the day through the car power adapter.
All staff were already accustomed to the survey itself. Surveyors
using tablets benefited from a three hours training on the use of
the device and close coaching during the first days of the survey.
Data was downloaded to a USB keys by surveyors on a daily
basis and then transferred by the survey manager to a data
analysis software (QlickView ) for immediate data quality check.
During the ten days of the survey, the survey manager observed
the data collection process. At the end, an analysis was
performed on EpiData to compare the quality of data collected
via paper questionnaires and that of data collected with tablets.
Results
Handling & acceptance by staff
+ Staff got quickly acquainted with the device and the electronic
version of the questionnaires.
+ They felt empowered using this equipment, taking good care
of it.
+ Staff confirmed workload reduction compared to paper
questionnaires.
- Staff reported some difficulties using the stylus. Finger was
preferred.
Technical aspects
+ No technical bugs observed while using tablets, nor data loss.
+ Heat and dust did not affect the functioning of the tablets.
+ Strong sunlight did not affect the capacity to read forms on the
screens.
- Problems were encountered with power autonomy: recharging
time revealed to be different from a battery/a tablet to another,
creating uncertainty about autonomy. As tablets must be
switched off to be charged, there was always a risk of having
to stop working to recharge if autonomy was not sufficient.
Data collection & management
- Adaptation of electronic questionnaires after pilot testing was
not possible without HQ IT intervention.
- Once entries had been saved, corrections on the tablets were
not possible anymore.
+ Instant availability of electronic data allowed immediate quality
data control and direct feedback to the staff when needed.
Quality of data collected
+ Systematic comparison between the two datasets showed a
low rate of discrepancy:
< 1% of all values from a selection of key fields.
+ No missing entries and/or erroneous values were observed
in data electronically collected while there were in paper
questionnaires.
ConclusionAlthough challenges remain regarding power autonomy and
supply, the study shows that it is possible and beneficial to use
electronic devices for data collection in a difficult environment.
In that respect, use of solar batteries will soon be tested.
The study also confirms that electronic data collection minimizes
risk of of error (through dynamic rules), while allowing immediate
data quality check and faster use of data.
Even though tablets require an initial investment, in the long term,
they can substantially reduce expenses and time required to
conduct traditionnal survey (duplication of forms, filing, stationary
expenses, secondary data entry, etc.).
Dynamic rules prevent erroneous values and bypass of questions.
France Broillet 1, Ludovic Rossel 2, Médecins Sans Frontières OCG1 Nutrition referent - 2 Medical data manager
Ethical review was not required for this study. There was no
conflict of interest and no external funding.
Contacts: [email protected]