Background and Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed severe challenges to the healthcare sector and the research community worldwide, disrupting effective healthcare service delivery. The ARCOS-V study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, faced many challenges, necessitating a shift from traditional data collection methods to a digital platform. We aimed to explore the efficacy of a digital transformation in epidemiological research to maintain research continuity and integrity under pandemic constraints.
Methods: We transitioned from paper-based data collection to a rapid implementation of REDCap, a cloud-based application for survey-based research. Data collection was conducted remotely, involving daily reviews of health records and direct entries into REDCap by trained researchers.
Results: The digital approach enabled continued data collection during the lockdowns, allowing the ARCOS-V study to monitor cases of stroke and TIA effectively amidst social distancing measures. The use of a centralised digital platform facilitated a broader reach, enhanced data accuracy, improved the efficiency of data collection compared to paper-based methods, and ensured data security. The transition also highlighted challenges such as potential systematic data entry errors and the need for robust security measures to protect sensitive health information.
Conclusion: The successful implementation of digital data collection methods in the ARCOS-V study during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates how digital tools can transform epidemiological research. This adaptation not only maintained the continuity of the study but also ensured the protection of data integrity and privacy, confirming this as a viable avenue for future epidemiological research in post-pandemic and other constrained environments.