Data Collection

Collection of clinical trial data can be accomplished through multiple methods including paper or electronic medical records, trial-specific forms completed at each site, central web-based systems, or local electronic data capture methods. Data collection is a critical process in the trial pathway. No matter how much time or effort is invested into conducting the trial well, if data are not collected effectively at pre-specified time points, meaningful analysis may not be possible; this could prevent you from answering your research question. The quality and integrity of the data collected are of primary importance, something electronic data collection tools now have the capability to perform validation checks in real-time as the data is recorded.