title: Quality assurance of data collection in the multi-site community randomized trial and prevalence survey of the children's healthy living program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality assurance plays an important role in research by assuring data integrity, and thus, valid study results. We aim to describe and share the results of the quality assurance process used to guide the data collection process in a multi-site childhood obesity prevalence study and intervention trial across the US Affiliated Pacific Region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quality assurance assessments following a standardized protocol were conducted by one assessor in every participating site. Results were summarized to examine and align the implementation of protocol procedures across diverse settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data collection protocols focused on food and physical activity were adhered to closely; however, protocols for handling completed forms and ensuring data security showed more variability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quality assurance protocols are common in the clinical literature but are limited in multi-site community-based studies, especially in underserved populations. The reduction in the number of QA problems found in the second as compared to the first data collection periods for the intervention study attest to the value of this assessment. This paper can serve as a reference for similar studies wishing to implement quality assurance protocols of the data collection process to preserve data integrity and enhance the validity of study findings.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NIH clinical trial #NCT01881373.
authors: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Yamanaka
authors: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA. mariekf@hawaii.edu.
authors: Marie Kainoa
authors: MK
authors: Fialkowski
authors: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: Wilkens
authors: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors: Fenfang
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors: Reynolette
authors: R
authors: Ettienne
authors: American Samoa Community College, Mesepa, AS, USA.
authors: Travis
authors: T
authors: Fleming
authors: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, USA.
authors: Julianne
authors: J
authors: Power
authors: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Deenik
authors: Northern Marianas College, Saipan, MP, USA.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Coleman
authors: University of Guam, Mangilao, GU, USA.
authors: Rachael
authors: R
authors: Leon Guerrero
authors: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Novotny
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards*; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D000070497:Healthy Lifestyle; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Childhood; Multi-site; Obesity; Pacific; Prevalence; Quality assurance