The Solution
It was clear that REACH would need to use teams of field interviewers to sample and survey participants. They had to find a way to complete interviews in the field which would send the data easily and securely back to UNL to be studied. Voxco personal interviewing software (CAPI) exceeded their expectations with how seamlessly it integrated into their field research methodology:
1. Offline Capability: The CAPI software was installed onto field laptops, and interviewer questionnaires were programmed in both English and Spanish. In the field, interviewers can conduct interviews offline in rural areas using the in-person survey software when needed.
2. Data Synchronization & Protection: The interviewers also recorded the results of the HIV and Hepatitis C tests into short Voxco survey projects. Laptops are synchronized daily with the university’s secure servers. Survey answers are cleared off the laptops, which protects the confidential respondent data in case of theft or breakage. This way, all of the data collected from respondents is securely stored on UNL servers and does not remain on the field laptops.
3. Live Interviewer & Results Monitoring: Back at UNL, the project director can monitor multiple remote field teams. As laptops are synchronized in the field, completed interviews and the results of medical tests become visible. This allows for immediate data analysis, but also provides the ability to keep field teams on schedule.