Using a hand-held computer to collect data in an orthopedic outpatient clinic: a randomized trial of two survey methods.
OBJECTIVE
In a randomized study, the authors examine how data can be collected at the point of care. Specifically, examining to what extent handheld computer data collection systems introduce bias or increase respondent difficulty.


METHODS
Volunteers were randomized to 1 of 2 survey methods: the hand-held computer or a paper and pencil form of similar content. Differences between group scale scores were compared using the Wilcoxon (rank sum) test.


RESULTS
The hand-held computer system produced comparable scores to paper and pencil surveys. However, there was evidence of lower internal consistency reliability with the handheld computer.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated the comparability of the hand-held computer methodology to the paper and pencil methodology in obtaining survey information in an ambulatory clinic. The hand-held computer method of survey data collection offers an alternative to paper methods when point-of-care administration is acceptable. Preliminary evidence shows that this method produces comparable results to paper forms.
McBride
J S
JS
Department of Public Health Sciences, Health Services Research Center, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, USA. jmcbride@rc.phs.wfubmc.edu
Anderson
R T
RT
Bahnson
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006236:Handwriting; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009819:Office Visits; D009985:Orthopedics; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires