title: Using Text Messages for Critical Real-time Data Capture in the ANISA Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Aetiology of Neonatal Infection in South Asia (ANISA) study takes advantage of text messaging technology to record information required for randomizing the study population into a control subcohort. The text message system is also used for monitoring various study activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  When a child-health worker registers a newborn in the study, she sends a text message to a database server containing the study identification number and newborn's age at the time of registration. For each possible serious bacterial infection case, a study physician also sends a text message to the same server with the age of the young infant at the time of illness assessment. Using this information, a computer-based algorithm randomizes the newborn into a control subcohort. Text messages are also sent to alert the study physicians and study supervisors of a possible serious bacterial infection case being referred to health-care facilities. Phlebotomists working at remote specimen collection sites send text messages to the site laboratory personnel before sending the specimens through porters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Real-time data entry and monitoring are challenging for any population-based study conducted in remote areas. Our text messaging system provides an opportunity to overcome this barrier where availability of data entry facilities is limited.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Microbiology, Child Health Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh; †Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh; and ‡CSL Software Resources Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad Shahidul
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Qazi Sadeq-ur
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Tanvir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Nicholas E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: Belal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Md Mahmudur
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Ranjan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neogi
authors.forename: Samir K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Shams
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Arifeen
mesh_terms: D001211:Asia, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D000071074:Neonatal Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D060145:Text Messaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population