Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Module 6 of 10 Motivation and Practices for Developing PDA- Based Electronic Forms Jeffrey Shaffer, Ph.D. Using Mobile Technologies to Conduct PDA-Based Surveys in Remote Areas Part II: Electronic Form Design and Data Management Methods

In 2009, I was part of a research team to study Chagas' disease in two rural Mexican communities. Data collection procedures for this project included conducting a PDA-based household survey, where I was responsible for developing the PDA-based electronic questionnaire forms. The topics in modules 6-10 reflect many of the challenges that I encountered and techniques that I applied over the course of this project. My Role in Conducting a Recent PDA-Based Household Survey Module 6

Identify the motivation and practices for developing PDA-based electronic forms. Link PDA-based electronic forms with an underlying table. Develop PDA-based electronic forms with a set of controls and macros. Identify techniques for data preparation, management, and visualization. Synthesize PDA and global positioning devices to conduct a PDA-based household survey. Course Competencies for Part II Module 6

Those interested in conducting PDA-based surveys in remote areas or other locations where mobile technologies are useful University students Epidemiologists Statisticians Public health professionals The primary outcome studied in this course is Chagas’ disease, but the course concepts are directly applicable to a host of other outcomes. Target Audience for Part II Module 6

Each video module includes brief presentation of the material given in the course manual. Problem sets are provided as companion modules and at the end of each chapter of the course manual to help you reinforce the concepts introduced in each module. The course concludes with a set of learning questions to assess your general knowledge of the course content. Several of the concepts covered in this part of the course overlap with those covered in Part I. Course Structure Module 6

Ten video presentation modules (not downloadable) Ten video problem set modules (not downloadable) Ten PowerPoint presentations for course content (downloadable) Ten PowerPoint presentations for problem sets (downloadable) Course manual (downloadable) Course data sets (downloadable) Course Materials Module 6

Module 7 PDA-Based Electronic Form Design I Module 6 Motivation and Practices Overview of Part II Module 8 PDA-Based Electronic Form Design II Module 9 Data Preparation, Management, and Visualization Module 10 A Complete Case Study Module 6

Module 7 PDA-Based Electronic Form Design I Overview of Part II Module 8 PDA-Based Electronic Form Design II Module 9 Data Preparation, Management, and Visualization Module 10 A Complete Case Study Module 6 Motivation and Practices

Describe the format for Part II. State the course competencies for Part II. Define three classifications of electronic forms. Identify several software applications for developing PDA-based electronic forms. Use data synchronization software to transfer files between a PC and a PDA. Capture PDA screenshots. Module 6 Learning Objectives Module 6

An electronic form (e-Form) is an electronic template with protected information and fields for recording information. Three broad categories: 1. Nonfillable 2. Single-ended 3. Two-ended What is an Electronic Form? Module 6

The most basic classification of e-Forms Essentially digital templates for paper forms Not linked to a table Information is recorded on printed copies of the form and manually entered into a table for summarization Not very useful for PDA-based surveys unless the sample population is small Nonfillable e-Forms Module 6

Electronic forms with digitally fillable fields Not linked to a table Information is recorded either by saving each form separately or by recording information on printed copies of the form and manually entering into a table for summarization Useful when the main content needs to be customized for different populations or respondents Single-Ended e-Forms Module 6

Electronic forms with fillable fields that are linked to an underlying table Although data could be recorded by using only a table, it is considerably more efficient to record the data using a form The form component is sometimes referred to as the front end of its associated table; the table component is often referred to as the back end of the form Two-ended e-Forms will be used exclusively in this course. Two-Ended e-Forms Module 6

Form or front end component Two-Ended e-Forms Module 6 Associated mobile table or back end component

PDA-based data collection is not very useful for responses with long strings Best suited for questions with brief, closed-ended responses PDA keyboards or miniature laptops should be considered for studies with long, open-ended responses Suitability of PDAs for Data Collection Module 6

Microsoft Access Microsoft Word Adobe Acrobat Microsoft Internet Explorer PageMaker Microsoft Excel Some PC-Based Software for Creating e-Forms Module 6 While these packages provide great flexibility in creating forms, they are only suited for laptop or desktop computers (PCs)

We use the Visual CE e-Form software ( for the course applications. $129 for a single user, or $399 for three or more users Competing applications: FAST ( $49 for each user, and $200 for data transfer software Cybertracker ( Freeware Pendragon ( $299 for first user, and $65 for each additional user e-Form Software for PDAs Module 6

Microsoft Access Form Interface Visual CE Form Interface Choosing e-Form Software for PDAs Module 6

The functionality of PDA-based e-Form software is very limited compared to that for PCs The documentation for PDA-based e-Form software is not very well-developed PDAs should be used as data collection devices; data management should be performed using the PC Choosing e-Form Software for PDAs Module 6

Cost of base software, extensions, and updates Customization abilities; e.g., available text sizes, labels, templates, and resizing features Available controls; e.g., radio buttons, check boxes, drop-down lists, note boxes, and time stamps Macro programming capabilities Functionality on various PDA operating systems; e.g., Windows Mobile, PalmOS, and PocketPC Synchronization capabilities Customer support Choosing e-Form Software for PDAs Module 6

The first step for developing PDA-based e-Forms is to establish connectivity between the PDA and the PC Two software packages for establishing connectivity for PCs with Windows operating systems: Microsoft ActiveSync Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) This software is often referred to as data synchronization software File Management Module 6

Microsoft ActiveSync URL: synchronize/activesync45.mspx Price: free Supported for Microsoft Windows XP Not Vista or Windows 7-compatible Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) URL: help/synchronize/device-center.mspx#downloadhelp/synchronize/device-center.mspx#download Price: free Only supported for Vista and Windows 7 Data Synchronization Software Module 6

I will present the techniques in this course using ActiveSync; these instructions are very similar to those for using the WMDC. 1. Connect the PDA to the PC/Laptop using a USB cable 2. Open ActiveSync on the PC/Laptop: a. Click the Start button b. Select Programs c. Select ActiveSync 3. Select Tools 4. Select Explore Device Using Data Synchronization Software Module 6

6. Double-click the icon for your mobile device It should look like this: 7. Drag the M6Practice1.docx file to the My Documents folder on your mobile device 8. Open the M6Practice1.docx file from the mobile device Illustration 1: Using the Data Synchronization Software Module 6

Studies using PDA devices usually call for capturing PDA screenshots for preparing instructions and presentations Capturing PDA Screenshots Module 6 PDA Screenshots

Remote Display Control for Pocket PC URL: archive/wce/downloads/ppctoys.mspx?mfr=true Price: free I had no problems running this software using Vista This application is often used in conjunction with the “Print Screen” and “Snipping Tool” (Vista / Windows 7 Users) features for the PC Capturing PDA Screenshots Module 6

1. Connect the PDA to the PC/Laptop using a USB cable 2. On the PC/Laptop: a. Open ActiveSync b. Open the Remote Display Control Host, and leave the new window open 3. On the PDA: a. Click the Start button b. Select Programs c. Click cerdisp d. Click OK e. Click Connect f. Leave the Hostname set to PPP_PEER, and click OK g. Open the M6Practice1.docx file Illustration 2: Capturing PDA Screenshots Module 6

4. On the PC/Laptop, select Start, Programs, and Accessories 5. To take the screenshot, Vista / Windows 7 users should choose the Snipping Tool, while XP users should select Microsoft Paint Illustration 2: Capturing PDA Screenshots Module 6

Describe the format for Part II. State the course competencies for Part II. Define three classifications of electronic forms. Identify several software applications for developing PDA-based electronic forms. Use data synchronization software to transfer files between a PC and a PDA. Capture PDA screenshots. Module 6 Learning Objectives Module 6

A hands-on demonstration of some of the aforementioned software applications is provided next. Hands-On Demonstrations Module 6

This concludes Module 6. In Module 7, I introduce strategies and techniques for designing PDA-based e-Forms. What’s Next? Module 6

Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Module 6 of 10 Motivation and Practices for Developing PDA- Based Electronic Forms Jeffrey Shaffer, Ph.D. Using Mobile Technologies to Conduct PDA-Based Surveys in Remote Areas Part II: Electronic Form Design and Data Management Methods