James M. Galliher|T. V. Stewart|Pramod K. Pathak|James J. Werner|L. Miriam Dickinson|John Hickner
Data Collection Outcomes Comparing Paper Forms With PDA Forms in an Office-Based Patient Survey
Research Network (United States)|University of Missouri–Kansas City|Denver Health Medical Center|University of Colorado Health|University of Colorado Denver|Research Network (United States)|Michigan State University|Case Western Reserve University|Denver Health Medical Center|University of Colorado Health|University of Colorado Denver|University of Chicago
purposewe compared completeness data collection using paper forms using electronic forms loaded handheld computers offi cebased patient interview survey conducted within american academy family physicians national research networkmethods asked 19 medical assistants nurses family practices administer survey pneumococcal immunizations 60 older adults 30 using paper forms 30 using electronic forms handheld computersby random assignment interviewers used either paper electronic form fi rstusing multilevel analyses adjusted patient characteristics clustering forms practice analyzed completeness data resultsa total 1003 expected 1140 forms returned data centerthe overall return rate better paper forms 537 570 94 electronic forms 466 570 82 technical diffi culties experienced electronic data collection stolen lost handheld computerserrors omission returned forms however common using paper formsof returned forms 3 gathered electronically errors omission compared 35 gathered papersimilarly 004 total survey items missing electronic forms compared 35 survey items using paper formsconclusions although handheld computers produced complete data paper method returned forms superior large amount missing data due technical diffi culties handheld computers loss theftother hardware solutions tablet computers cell phones linked via wireless network directly web site may better electronic solutions future