Development and deployment of a digital platform for the collection of consistent non-communicable disease epidemiological data across multiple low and middle-income countries: A user-centred design approach

Abstract Background: A critical challenge for large-scale multi-country population health studies is the ability to collect consistent data across many sites and time periods and ensure that the data collected are valid and comparable. The use of mobile digital devices coupled with data collection platforms can address this challenge. We developed a fit-for-purpose digital data collection platform for the South Asia Biobank study. Objective: To describe the process by which a digital platform was designed, developed and deployed across four countries in South Asia; to demonstrate how the platform enabled field research teams located across these countries to collect non-communicable diseases epidemiological data consistently. Methods: A user-centred design approach was employed for the development of the digital platform to address the dynamic nature of study requirements. This approach uses 5-step iterative loops that, with each iteration, produce a usable prototype version of the software that was then tested by potential users of the platform. Qualitative interviews and quantitative system usability assessments were conducted, and findings utilised as input for the start of the next iterative loop. The process was completed when a working version of the software was developed for the use in the study. Results: Over the course of four iterative loops, the platform was progressively built and tested to ensure its functionality met the requirements of the study. Detailed feedback was collected from key stakeholders and incorporated into the platform with each new version of the applications. The platform leverages advances in mobile and medical device technology along with software integration capabilities to enable efficient and consistent data collection, along with the ability to review data quality and make improvements to the data collection process in real-time. The successful deployment of the data platform has enabled collection of comprehensive baseline data from 205,536 participants in four South Asian countries. Conclusions: Using user-centred design principles, it is possible to develop and deploy a comprehensive digital surveillance data management platform that allows consistent and high-quality data collection in population health studies in remote settings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first platform that enables the integrated capture of health assessment data from a wide variety of medical equipment that is tailored for deployment in a range of LMIC settings.