Web-based data collection for uterine adnexal tumors: a case study

We have developed a World Wide Web application for the collection of EPRs (electronic patient records) from uterine adnexal masses pre-operatively examined with transvaginal ultrasonography. The application has been used intensively since November 2000 by nine of the 19 international centers that joined the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) consortium. The IOTA database contains 68 parameters for 1,150 masses. We report the design and implementation of the generic Web-based clinical data entry system and describe the advantages and drawbacks that we have experienced while developing, using and maintaining the system. The data model, the user interface, the help system, the constraints (mandatory/optional) and the quality checking were all based on the medical protocol created by the IOTA consortium. The data collection system has become an open and transparent implementation of the formalized protocol. It covers the complete path of the patient data from the clinical situation to the finalized database. This approach provides new types of possibilities for the data analysis, since all aspects of the data collection are documented and formally available to the data analyst. The IOTA Web site can be found at , which also serves as the entry point for the secure EPR application.