A suite of web applications to streamline the interdisciplinary collaboration in secondary data analyses

Ricardo Pietrobon,Ulrich Guller,Danny O Jacobs,Henrique Martins,Andreia P Menezes,Laurence D Higgins

doi:10.1186/1471-2288-4-29

Abstract

BackgroundWe describe a system of web applications designed to streamline the interdisciplinary collaboration in outcomes research.DescriptionThe outcomes research process can be described as a set of three interrelated phases: design and selection of data sources, analysis, and output. Each of these phases has inherent challenges that can be addressed by a group of five web applications developed by our group. QuestForm allows for the formulation of relevant and well-structured outcomes research questions; Research Manager facilitates the project management and electronic file exchange among researchers; Analysis Charts facilitate the communication of complex statistical techniques to clinicians with varying previous levels of statistical knowledge; Literature Matrices improve the efficiency of literature reviews. An outcomes research question is used to illustrate the use of the system.ConclusionsThe system presents an alternative to streamline the interdisciplinary collaboration of clinicians, statisticians, programmers, and graduate students.

Highlights

We describe a system of web applications designed to streamline the interdisciplinary collaboration in outcomes research.Description: The outcomes research process can be described as a set of three interrelated phases: design and selection of data sources, analysis, and output
RFeigsuearrech1 phases, challenges, and respective tools Research phases, challenges, and respective tools a clinically relevant and methodologically sound research question, find appropriate data sources, perform statistical analyses, and generate a final manuscript that will be submitted for peer-review
Individual researchers have the training and time to perform a few of these steps, but the integration of all tasks calls for an interdisciplinary systems approach [1,2]

Summary

Background

The number of relevant data sources available for outcomes research has grown exponentially. The system of Web applications is composed by five different tools: QuestForm, Research Manager, Analysis Charts, and Literature Matrices These tools were designed to assist researchers in each of the phases encountered in an outcomes research project involving secondary data analysis (Figure 1). All participating members of the project receive weekly reports containing details about the activity and the latest electronic file within each task (Figure 6) These files can include research questions, data analysis files, synthesis of a literature review, and manuscript drafts. Outcomes research application At the end of the project, Dr Guller combined the Question Diagram, Analysis Chart, and Literature Matrices to write the final manuscript. Not included in the final manuscript, Dr Guller had access to multiple analysis files through Research Manager to orient him in each of the steps taken during the research question formulation, data analysis, and literature review.

Discussion

Conclusion