Measuring Behavior 2005: Naughton

Assessing methods of data capture in pediatric oncological settings

M.C. Naughton, T.L. Abrecht, T.S. Foster, A.M. Peterson, L.A. Penner and J.C. Ruckdeschel

Communication and Behavioral Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute and Department of Family Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA

Traditional methods for coding human interaction are the use of pen and paper. Electronic systems, such as The Observer^® (Noldus Information Technology bv, The Netherlands), provide an alternative method. The application and value added of electronic coding in human interaction, especially in medical context has not been fully explored. The goal of this study is to determine whether electronic methodology is more accurate and efficient for coding than traditional hardcopy coding. We will examine the differences in coder accuracy, time efficiency, reliability and ease of integration to spreadsheets. Four coders will analyze ten tapes using a pen/paper code sheet, The Observer, or a combination. The coders will examine the interaction between pediatric oncology patients and their parents. The proximity of the parent to the child and throughout the medical procedure and the amount of contact will be assessed. (Early pilot data already compiled show promise of key differences.) Coders will complete questionnaires reporting their coding experiences using both methods to obtain subjective measures on the ease of use and efficiency. It is expected that the electronic system will assist coders in capturing the time an event occurs more accurately and efficiently than traditional paper and pencil coding methods. These data may support the value added by using the electronic coding methodology. Implications for the extent to which the added value is retained across increasingly complex coding systems will be discussed.

This study is part of a larger bio-behavioral study of parents’ influence on children’s coping with painful cancer treatments (NCI RO1 CA100027-01 Terrance Albrecht, PhD, Principal Investigator).

Paper presented at Measuring Behavior 2005 , 5^th International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 30 August - 2 September 2005, Wageningen, The Netherlands.