A Web-based Dynamic User Customized Entry System for Public Health Surveillance

Background: Web browsers are widely used as an interface to collect relevant data on public health. However, systematic data collection from a web browser requires special expertise using a program technique to create an entry form in conjunction with database fields. The Dynamic User Customized Entry System (DUCES) provides the benefit of reducing the barrier of interface development via the Internet. Methods: We developed an application that enables users to easily create a data entry form through a web browser. Through this system, the end user can automatically generate a data entry form without any programming. Based on the relational database architecture, this system contains two major parts: a structure model and a dynamic entry generator. Results: The first part was developed to record a series setting of items relevant to the characteristics of data entry. The second part was designed to produce an entry form in reality. The aim of the DUCES project was to provide users flexibility in data collection. In addition, this system had been well-developed and conducted in a community-based integrated screening program. Conclusion: The effectiveness of the system can be gauged from the impact of the population-based information convergence. An illustration of data collection using DUCES for colorectal cancer prediction was also demonstrated. The risk factors including smoking, drinking, vegetable intake, and meat intake were obtained from the system. Moreover, a positive association between low vegetable intake and colorectal cancer was assessed using the odds ratio.