Staff Attitudes Towards Electronic Data Collection for a National Take-Home Naloxone Program

Abstract

Background During the scaling-up of a national Norwegian take-home naloxone (THN) program, data collection methods shifted from paper-based to electronic. The aim of this study was to explore staff attitudes and preferences towards the shift in data collection. Methods In January-February 2020, a survey was sent out via email to personnel involved with the THN program (n=200). The survey included 17 questions, and covered staff demographics, experiences distributing THN, attitudes towards data collection (both paper and electronically), and an open response section. Descriptive statistics were performed for the survey results. The open response section was recorded from each questionnaire and was coded into major themes by the authors. Main findings In total, 122 staff completed the survey. Of these, 62% had experience with both electronic and paper-based forms, and there was a near unanimous preference towards electronic data collection over paper-based forms. From the free-text responses, staff found the electronic form to be a useful tool for conversation and overdose prevention education, and that the electronic form was easier to manage than the paper forms. Conclusion The shift towards electronic data collection was necessary for the feasibility of the Norwegian national THN program. This study found that staff not only tolerated the shift, but in most cases preferred this organizational change.