JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

While Participatory Action Research (PAR) studies have proliferated in recent years, the development of technological resources to manage these types of projects have not kept pace. Few studies show how web-based applications can be used to efficiently manage the data collection process.

Objective:

This study describes the development, use, and impact of a web-based application to facilitate data management in, Niños Sanos, Familia Sana (NSFS - Healthy Children, Healthy Family), an interventional multifaceted PAR field study.

Methods:

We describe the transformation of the data management process and evaluate the impact of the application in terms of time-efficiency of data collection and engagement of community-based data collectors. We define time-efficiency as the total number of days it took to collect three main surveys, per year of data collection. Engagement of data collectors is assessed based on qualitative reports.

Results:

The amount of time it took to perform a round of data collection was reduced after implementation of the field team application (from between 382 and 383 days to between 198 and 233 days). Secondary data was also collected in a tighter time frame around collection of the primary outcome and communication among data collectors, the field staff, and the research team was streamlined. In focus groups, community-based data collectors reported feeling more empowered and engaged in the data collection process after implementation of the application.

Conclusions:

A web-based management application was successful in improving data collection time-efficiency and engagement among data collectors.