Tablet Field Trial Protocol

Purpose

The purpose of the tablet field trial is to assess the general usefulness of using tablets to collect visit data during DLS vaccine distribution visits. Key questions to understand include:

• Do the tablets hold-up in the field? are they lost, damaged, or stolen during the course of the trial?
• How well does using the native SELV user interface work for field coordinators? What improvements would they like to see?
• Are field coordinators about to enter and upload data while in the field? Is data available more quickly using tablets? 
• Is data entered via the tablet more or less accurate that data entered via other means. 

In entering the field trial, we are aware that the current tablet workflow and user interface for data entry is not ideal. It can be clunky and time consuming to enter the data using the touch-screen, and often the screen can be jumpy or doesn't respond. The decision was made to enter the field trial with these known issues to determine how important this issues are to the field coordinators, and develop a compete list of features needed for the next tablet application.

Schedule

Protocol

The tablet will be trialed in Gaza province by two field coordinators. A tablet will be issued to each field coordinator. They will use the tablet for three months (the July, August, and September distributions). At the end of each month a  survey will be completed by the field coordinator to record their impressions of using the tablet.

The field trial will use the following basic steps:

1. Prior to leaving provincial headquarters, Field Coordinator "Initiates Distribution" on the tablet. This will cache all the health facility data entry screens on the tablet. Field coordinator also brings paper data forms to use in case of tablet failure.
2. When visiting a health center, the Field Coordinator enters visit data directly onto the tablet. They do not use the paper form.
3. When driving between health centers, the Field Coordinator charges the tablet using the car charger.
4. While on distribution, the Field Coordinator seeks out locations with cellular internet access, connects to the internet, then synchronized data for health facilities visited so far. A synchronization should be completed daily, or every few days.
5. When the Field Coordinator returns from a distribution, they do a final synchronization from the tablet, confirming that data for all facilities has been synchronized.
6. When the Field Coordinator returns from a distribution, they complete the tablet field trial user survey

If the tablet fails or loses charge while in the field:

The field coordinator reverts to recording data on the paper DLS data collection form

If the field coordinator is unable to synchronize data while in the field:

The field coordinator continues recording data on the tablet, then synchronizes when they return to the province

Training

Tatenda will deliver the tablets to Gaza province and provide informal training. Key points include:

• Turning on and off the tablet
• Connecting to the internet
• Charging the tablet 
• Accessing SELV website from tablet
• Tablet procedure for data entry (is exactly the same as using SELV on a PC)
• Process for using the tablet on distributions (Initiate before leaving province, sync when possible while on distribution)
• Monthly survey

Field Trial Support & Escalation

Field trial support will include the following.

1. During the first distribution using the tablet, Tatenda will check-in with field coordinators via the phone to answer any questions and ensure data is being collected
2. Tatenda will check in by phone with the field coordinators after each distribution
3. Any issues identified will be logged on the Tablet Field Trial Issue Tracking Sheet 
4. Tatenda will email Josh and Sarah for assistance as needed

Post-Trial Decisions

At the end of the field trial we will meet to decide:

1. Gaza - Continue using tablets in Gaza or remove?
2. Other Provinces - Roll tablets out to other provinces as is, or not?
3. Tablet Hardware - Continue procuring this model of tablet, or look for others?
4. Tablet Software Release - Determine if another software release for the tablet will be developed?