Leveraging Technology for Optimization of Health Survey Research

Abstract

Public health deals with promotion of health, prevention and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases by designing appropriate health interventions and services to deliver through the health systems. There is a need for robust database on the magnitude of disease burden, socio-demographic characteristics and associated risk factors for evidence-based effective planning and developing appropriate strategies, their implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Although India has vast information available through various large-scale surveys and research studies, it still lacks a reliable health information management system. The available data are seldom analysed to draw meaningful conclusions, to develop evidence for policies and strategies and to measure effectiveness of health programmes. The challenges faced in the survey research are multifaceted, from data collection in the field to its rapid transmission of data to central data servers. There is an increasing trend in using technology, especially computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) which is not only expensive but also requires extensive training and information management for transmission of data and its storage. This article examines the application of technology in survey research for efficient data management and to improve data quality. A software called Open Data Kit (ODK) was used for data collection and real-time monitoring of interviewers in field to improve the quality of data collection, achieve desired response rate (RR) and for better field operations’ management. The data collection and field reporting forms designed using ODK act as a significant tool to demonstrate how technology can be used to articulate research expectations at various levels with lower cost and higher efficiency. The research article examines all possible aspects of using technology in Health Survey Research. It aims to introduce further discussion of using technology for field data collection and monitoring.