The validity and acceptability of a text-based monitoring system for pediatric XXXX studies.

@entity1 @entity565 @entity87
UNASSIGNED: A meaningful analysis in research requires robust, valid data. Paper diaries allow the collection of data from individuals over time but are notorious for poor compliance and validity. @entity87 -technology is a novel method for data collection in medical research. Time-tagged @entity87 are transferred directly to an electronic file. We used @entity87 to collect symptoms and peak flow rate (PEFR) meter readings from 32 @entity1 with @entity565 . Parents responded first to five @entity87 daily for 7 days during an asymptomatic period and then for 14 days during a cold. Compliance with use of PEFR meter and @entity87 system were assessed. Digital PEFR meters enabled data download at the end of the study to confirm validity of transmitted data. Parents of 24 @entity1 provided feedback about this data collection tool. Mean (  SD) " @entity87 -diary and PEFR-meter compliance" were 96% (  8) and 84% (  21) during baseline and 91% (  12) and 82% (  20) during cold respectively. Correctly reported PEFR values were found in 65.5% of all cases, in 8.3% PEFR values sent were "self-invented" and 2.4% of values were missing. All of the 22 parents completing the baseline questionnaire were happy to use @entity87 for this study. Of the 20 parents completing the follow up questionnaire, 95% (19/20) found the system user-friendly, 55% (11/20) would be more likely to participate in studies if they were using @entity87 data collection and 25% (5/20) were "sometimes unhappy" about receiving messages. This real-time capture of data is well accepted and could avoid some of the pitfalls of backfilled paper diaries. Pediatr Pulmonol.    2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
