title: Quantitative assessment of the benefits of specific information technologies applied to clinical studies in developing countries.
abstract: Clinical studies and trials require accessibility of large amounts of high-quality information in a timely manner, often daily. The integrated application of information technologies can greatly improve quality control as well as facilitate compliance with established standards such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). We have customized and implemented a number of information technologies, such as personal data assistants (PDAs), geographic information system (GIS), and barcode and fingerprint scanning, to streamline a pediatric dengue cohort study in Managua, Nicaragua. Quantitative data was obtained to assess the actual contribution of each technology in relation to processing time, accuracy, real-time access to data, savings in consumable materials, and time to proficiency in training sessions. In addition to specific advantages, these information technologies benefited not only the study itself but numerous routine clinical and laboratory processes in the health center and laboratories of the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health.
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Sciences Institute, Managua, Nicaragua. wravmon@yahoo.com
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Avilés
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Guillermina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coloma
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000592:standards; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D003906:Developing Countries; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D040362:Geographic Information Systems / Q000592:standards; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019451:Information Management / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D009527:Nicaragua; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D013997:Time Factors