CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION-SYSTEMS FRAMEWORK FOR IMPROVING CONTINUITY IN EPIDEMIOLOGIC RESEARCH

Lack of continuity is a problem for survey-based epidemiological resea rch. Poor access to experience and inadequate retention of information means new projects seldom build on successful predecessors to the max imum possible extent. We have designed a data management framework whi ch addresses this problem using a well-known information systems appro ach. Our ideas provide a means of storing data in a manner which refle cts the original research concepts. This makes collected data accessib le and understandable without reference to the questionnaire, and allo ws new questionnaires to be designed quickly and easily. Our framework provides a means for recording developmental, conceptual and other su pporting information and documentation which is traditionally poorly c onserved. We illustrate the components of the framework using a major Australian epidemiological project as a case study. Once the necessary software is developed, our framework will improve organisational memo ry within individual research units and has the potential to become a valuable support tool for survey-based research.