Real-Time Data Collection Utilizing Mobile Technology in Clinical Research: A Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Cohort

Introduction: Clinical research faces the challenge of declining physician participation in the pursuit of advancing evidence-based medicine. This secondary analysis focuses on the interactive mobile health (mHealth) application's utility as a real-time data collection tool in clinical settings, specifically targeting cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) management. The study assesses the mHealth application's potential to alleviate data collection inefficiencies and improve physician engagement in clinical research.

Methods: The analysis utilized de-identified survey data from a prospective cohort of 61 physicians who employedan interactive mobile survey application over 12 weeks, documenting 808 patient visits.

Results: Of these physicians, 52 (85%) completed initial and follow-up surveys, with the predominant reason for exclusion being incomplete or non-submission of data. Of the 404 patient surveys collected, 75 (19%) were excluded primarily due to the absence of follow-up information.

Conclusion: These results underscore the application's practicality in streamlining clinical data collection, evidenced by the high rate of survey completion and the efficiency of data management among participating physicians. The findings indicate that interactive mobile health applications aided in collecting and managing clinical data, with 85% of physicians completing surveys for initial and follow-up visits. This high completion rate suggests the potential for mobile applications to mitigate traditional barriers to physician participation, such as time constraints and complex data management. The study contributes empirical evidence to the potential of mobile technology in enhancing research efficiency and engagement among physicians in the context of CMPA management. While the results are insightful, further studies are encouraged to extend the utility of the interactive mobile survey application and similar technologies across diverse clinical research areas, reinforcing mobile technology's role in transforming clinical research practices.