[PD-6] Creating a Database for Evaluating a Training Program in a Medically Underserved Minority Community
Irene A. Gutierrez, BS, University of Arizona, College of Pharmacy, Tuscon, AZ
Irene A. Gutierrez, Marion K. Slack, Alicia Delgadillo, Marylyn M. McEwen
When projects collect large amounts of data, the process of what to do with the data and how to store it becomes an issue. The Nuestra Comunidad, Nuestra Salud (NCNS) Project provides interdisciplinary training in a primarily Hispanic rural community for students in nursing, pharmacy, nutrition, medicine, social work and public health. Students work with community health workers to provide case management services and with community leaders to complete community level interventions. The NCNS Project obtains demographic and evaluation information that is then used to determine changes needed to the project.
Methods: Currently the data collected is student demographic data, data related to students' evaluation of practicum and classroom activities, and data related to case management activities. Originally data was collected from hard copies of completed instruments. The project is currently converting to electronic data collection. Instruments are posted on a secure web site for completion, submission, and then automatically stored in the database for analysis.
Results: With hard copies there was opportunity for errors from incomplete instruments, recording and typographical error, and error through loss of hard copies. Electronic data collection eliminates these types of errors. Electronic data collection requires a response in each cell before data can be submitted, eliminating incomplete forms. Data is taken directly from students' responses so recording and typographical errors are eliminated because data is fed directly into the storage system. The loss of hard copies is eliminated because the forms are electronically archived.
Conclusion: An electronic data collection and storage process reduces error and helps manage the data collected. Accurate data collection plays a critical role in evaluating the program and determining necessary changes.
