Quest markup for developing FAIR questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studies
Abstract Background Online questionnaires are commonly used to collect information from participants in epidemiological studies. This requires building questionnaires using machine-readable formats that can be delivered to study participants using web-based technologies such as progressive web appli...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-023-02338-6 |
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| author | Daniel E. Russ Nicole M. Gerlanc Brian Shen Bhaumik Patel Amy Berrington de González Neal D. Freedman Julie M. Cusack Mia M. Gaudet Montserrat García-Closas Jonas S. Almeida |
| author_facet | Daniel E. Russ Nicole M. Gerlanc Brian Shen Bhaumik Patel Amy Berrington de González Neal D. Freedman Julie M. Cusack Mia M. Gaudet Montserrat García-Closas Jonas S. Almeida |
| author_sort | Daniel E. Russ |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Online questionnaires are commonly used to collect information from participants in epidemiological studies. This requires building questionnaires using machine-readable formats that can be delivered to study participants using web-based technologies such as progressive web applications. However, the paucity of open-source markup standards with support for complex logic make collaborative development of web-based questionnaire modules difficult. This often prevents interoperability and reusability of questionnaire modules across epidemiological studies. Results We developed an open-source markup language for presentation of questionnaire content and logic, Quest, within a real-time renderer that enables the user to test logic (e.g., skip patterns) and view the structure of data collection. We provide the Quest markup language, an in-browser markup rendering tool, questionnaire development tool and an example web application that embeds the renderer, developed for The Connect for Cancer Prevention Study. Conclusion A markup language can specify both the content and logic of a questionnaire as plain text. Questionnaire markup, such as Quest, can become a standard format for storing questionnaires or sharing questionnaires across the web. Quest is a step towards generation of FAIR data in epidemiological studies by facilitating reusability of questionnaires and data interoperability using open-source tools. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb1fbdda4ef345278a7d01a11caaf183 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6947 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb1fbdda4ef345278a7d01a11caaf1832025-08-20T04:03:06ZengBMCBMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making1472-69472023-10-012311710.1186/s12911-023-02338-6Quest markup for developing FAIR questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studiesDaniel E. Russ0Nicole M. Gerlanc1Brian Shen2Bhaumik Patel3Amy Berrington de González4Neal D. Freedman5Julie M. Cusack6Mia M. Gaudet7Montserrat García-Closas8Jonas S. Almeida9Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteAbstract Background Online questionnaires are commonly used to collect information from participants in epidemiological studies. This requires building questionnaires using machine-readable formats that can be delivered to study participants using web-based technologies such as progressive web applications. However, the paucity of open-source markup standards with support for complex logic make collaborative development of web-based questionnaire modules difficult. This often prevents interoperability and reusability of questionnaire modules across epidemiological studies. Results We developed an open-source markup language for presentation of questionnaire content and logic, Quest, within a real-time renderer that enables the user to test logic (e.g., skip patterns) and view the structure of data collection. We provide the Quest markup language, an in-browser markup rendering tool, questionnaire development tool and an example web application that embeds the renderer, developed for The Connect for Cancer Prevention Study. Conclusion A markup language can specify both the content and logic of a questionnaire as plain text. Questionnaire markup, such as Quest, can become a standard format for storing questionnaires or sharing questionnaires across the web. Quest is a step towards generation of FAIR data in epidemiological studies by facilitating reusability of questionnaires and data interoperability using open-source tools.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-023-02338-6Surveys and questionnairesData collectionData commonsData scienceEpidemiologic methods |
| spellingShingle | Daniel E. Russ Nicole M. Gerlanc Brian Shen Bhaumik Patel Amy Berrington de González Neal D. Freedman Julie M. Cusack Mia M. Gaudet Montserrat García-Closas Jonas S. Almeida Quest markup for developing FAIR questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studies BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making Surveys and questionnaires Data collection Data commons Data science Epidemiologic methods |
| title | Quest markup for developing FAIR questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studies |
| title_full | Quest markup for developing FAIR questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studies |
| title_fullStr | Quest markup for developing FAIR questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quest markup for developing FAIR questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studies |
| title_short | Quest markup for developing FAIR questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studies |
| title_sort | quest markup for developing fair questionnaire modules for epidemiologic studies |
| topic | Surveys and questionnaires Data collection Data commons Data science Epidemiologic methods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-023-02338-6 |
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