The Challenge / Opportunity
Create a highly efficient, engaging and usable mechanism for collecting information from NHS healthcare professionals.
Our Thinking and Approach
We reviewed the ‘hard copy’ survey content and performed some analysis of the intended recipients. The key to ensuring a good survey response was to understand the questionnaire content, nature of the intended recipients and level of their IT knowledge/equipment. As a result, we decided to create both online and offline electronic survey options.
The collected data is viewed through an application which allows search and analysis to be performed by the survey organisers. Cohezia provided a fully managed and hosted solution for the NHS.
Technology Utilised
The online survey application is accessed via a web browser based interface. It has been developed on a Microsoft platform using Microsoft .NET architecture and tools with a MS Access database to store the data entered. Relevant files can also be uploaded by the respondent. MS Access was selected to provide a user friendly method of providing the data to the survey organisers so that they could review the information collected and perform analysis of the results.
The offline electronic version utilises a MS Word based form structure which was sent back via e-mail by respondents and the data integrated into the central database electronically.
Creative and Usability Design
High usability was critical to the success of the survey. The online application features a wizard type interface design allowing the respondent to step through the various stages. The application also allows the respondent to save the data and then resume later, this was very important due the nature and length of time required to collate and enter the information required. The design also allowed for lost connections part way through the data entry, ensuring that no information is lost. The offline electronic option provided a good alternative to respondents who may not have good access to the internet or who may prefer to work on the form offline.
Results
The survey captured very important and useful information in a very cost effective, dynamic and usable way resulting in increased response rates and a positive experience for the respondents. The collected data was immediately available for monitoring and analysis during the survey period and beyond. The captured data can also be easily integrated with other systems.