I am interested as to why the default setting for Epidata for Field names is first word. I assume because it is the default setting that it is the most commonly used. Do other people use the first word setting when developing questionnaires? I have always used the automatic field names settings.
I use Epidata mainly for outbreak questionnaires. For these we ask standard questions each time 1. descriptive details about the person 2. information about the pattern of illness 3. information about the things (usually food) that a person has been exposed to
Becuase you have to develop questionnaires quickly when there is an outbreak I have a 'master file' which is like a template. When there is a new outbreak I just change the exposures and save it as a new name.
The following is a sample of what part of the epidata qes file would look like:
First name __________ Last Name _________ Sex <A> DOB <mm/dd/yyyy> Ill <Y> Diarrhoea <Y> OnsetDate <mm/dd/yyyy> Ham <Y> Beef <Y> Chicken <Y>
What would be the advantage of using the first name setting? It would mean the field for the first name in the example above would be 'First'. I have seen people develop questionnaires that use say V1 as the field and Ham as the label. But it seems to be to be much easier to analyse data when the field name is self explanatory. I give other people the advice to set up their questionnaire like I have and I don't want to be telling them the wrong thing, so would be interested to know what other people do.
thanks
Christine
Christine Roseveare Analyst Regional Public Health 570 9194 027 495 9671