Computer-assisted drug data collection.

Computerized systems for recording information about medication prescribing and use are important for studies in health services and pharmacoepidemiology. Such systems, if properly designed, can facilitate analysis as well as data collection. Although drug information systems exist for pharmacy service delivery applications, there are currently no descriptions of systems developed primarily for research applications in this area. This paper describes a computerized data collection system, developed for researchers, usable on portable equipment, and containing error checking features; the system has been extensively tested in over 850 study subjects taking part in a study of medication use in nursing homes that examines the impact of educational interventions for doctors and nurses on prescribing practices.