Your 5-Minute Guide to Digital Paper
By Tommy Jackson on February 4, 2020
Out in the fields or inside the barns, sometimes a reliable Internet connection can be hard to come by, if there is one at all. In these cases, professionals often must rely on the error prone method of recording with a pen and paper. However, a lack of an Internet connection should not compromise or disrupt a study.
Digital Paper is an offline Electronic Data Capture (EDC) app developed to work with Prelude EDC tools and accommodate studies that may operate in a field environment.
Q: What is it?
A: Digital Paper is a unique feature of Prelude EDC which allows a user to enter data into the system when there is no internet service available.
Q: What makes it so special?
A: Once internet access is regained, all data entered onto Digital Paper will be automatically synced into the system, maintaining time stamps both for when the data was entered and when it was uploaded.
Q: How does it work?
A: Digital Paper can be customized to feature whichever forms and fields the client specifies. Keep in mind that it is for data-entry only and will not run any calculations or constraints. All of these edit checks will trigger in the system once the data has been synced. The main purpose of Digital Paper is to give investigators in the field a place to synchronously record their findings as they perform physical exams on animals in places where there is limited internet available (e.g., horses out in the country) without having to write it on physical paper then transcribe it later.
Q: Is there anything else to note?
A: Yes, a few things to keep in mind are:
1. The subject for whom data is being entered onto Digital Paper must already be randomized
2. Blinding DOES remain in effect when logged onto Digital Paper
3. Digital Paper currently only works on android devices
4. Digital Paper is a contracted item
5. It’s easy to learn and easy to use!
