Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2008 May-Jun;15(3):386-9.
doi: 10.1197/jamia.M2381. Epub 2008 Feb 28.

Reducing errors from the electronic transcription of data collected on paper forms: a research data case study

Monika M Wahi  1 , David V Parks, Robert C Skeate, Steven B Goldin
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Reducing errors from the electronic transcription of data collected on paper forms: a research data case study

Monika M Wahi et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2008 May-Jun.

Abstract

We conducted a reliability study comparing single data entry (SE) into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to entry using the existing forms (EF) feature of the Teleforms software system, in which optical character recognition is used to capture data off of paper forms designed in non-Teleforms software programs. We compared the transcription of data from multiple paper forms from over 100 research participants representing almost 20,000 data entry fields. Error rates for SE were significantly lower than those for EF, so we chose SE for data entry in our study. Data transcription strategies from paper to electronic format should be chosen based on evidence from formal evaluations, and their design should be contemplated during the paper forms development stage.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Example of Teleforms traditional forms.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Examples of circle and box choice fields on forms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Neaton JD, Duchene AG, Svendsen KH, Wentworth D. An examination of the efficiency of some quality assurance methods commonly employed in clinical trials Stat Med 1990;9:115-123discussion 24. - PubMed
    1. Hakansson I, Lundstrom M, Stenevi U, Ehinger B. Data reliability and structure in the Swedish National Cataract Register Acta Ophthalmol Scand 2001;79:518-523. - PubMed
    1. Smyth ET, McIlvenny G, Barr JG, Dickson LM, Thompson IM. Automated entry of hospital infection surveillance data Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997;18:486-491. - PubMed
    1. Microsoft Office Word2003 ed.. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation; 2006.
    1. Microsoft Office Access2003 ed.. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation; 2006.

Publication types