Automated Data Collection in Breast Cancer Research
Author Information
Author(s): Thwin Soe Soe, Kerri M Clough-Gorr, Maribet C McCarty, Timothy L Lash, Sharon H Alford, Diana S M Buist, Shelley M Enger, Floyd Frost, Feifei Wei, Rebecca A Silliman
Primary Institution: Boston University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Can electronic data collection (EDC) improve the efficiency and reliability of data collection in multi-center breast cancer studies?
Conclusion
Automated EDC is a powerful tool for research efficiency and innovation, especially when multiple data collection sites are involved.
Supporting Evidence
- Data collection time was reduced by approximately four months compared to the project schedule.
- An automated evaluation of inter-rater and intra-rater reliability was implemented across six data collection sites.
- EDC allowed for ease and efficiencies in data management between sites.
Takeaway
Using computers to collect data instead of paper can make research faster and more accurate, especially when many places are involved.
Methodology
A computer-based automated menu-driven system with 658 data fields was developed for a cohort study of women aged 65 years or older diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at 6 sites.
Potential Biases
Potential selection biases by site were identified due to missed abstractions.
Limitations
The study did not include control or intervention strategies and relied on the availability of electronic data.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 65 years or older diagnosed with primary, histologically confirmed, early stage unilateral breast cancer.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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