Shiny for data collection

[nathant181]

I typically analyse data using R, though have done a bit in Python as well. Usually I'm dealing with data that has come from elsewhere, but I'm currently working on a project where we need to collect our own data, and the template we created in Excel for this purpose just isn't up to the job. The data are being collected on our behalf by healthcare professionals and concern various details about the cases they manage (both the people and the process), and individual records are updated over the course of several weeks (which counts out a simple web form using something like Microsoft Forms).

What are people's thoughts and experiences about using a Shiny app for data collection? The data we're collecting is quite sensitive, so security is a priority, as is robust user permissions management. It also needs to be easy and intuitive for non-technical people to use.

I figured that if I'm going to have to learn an app framework to collect my data, it might as well be one I can also use to share my results - but will Shiny be up to the job, or are there better options out there for data collection? I'm somewhat agnostic when it comes to R vs. Python.

[jrkrideau]

You might want to have a look at EpiData Software.

I have not used myself but some researchers I know have found it useful.

[nmambre]

I haven't used it, but shinysurveys exists.

For a dedicated data collection tool that can later be analyzed using Shiny/R/Python, I've used ODK. For ODK you'd need to set up and manage your own server. Several options to "Getting Data Out"

KoboToolbox is based on ODK and you could use to test without the hassle of setting up server.