A Plan for the Development and Evaluation of a Data Management and Analysis System for Clinical Investigators

A plan, part of the NIH-sponsored CLINFO project, for developing, installing, operating, and evaluating a prototype, minicomputer system designed to meet many of the information processing needs of medical researchers that are reported in R-1539, while being economical, easily accessible, and widely usable. The three-year plan calls for developing an initial prototype system aimed at helping clinical investigators collect, organize, store, retrieve, and analyze their research data; installing copies at two clinical research centers where they will be experimentally evaluated; modifying the system to maximize its acceptability; developing operating and maintenance procedures and requirements for personnel; estimating benefits and operating costs; and possibly testing conclusions at an additional site. The report describes the initial system, operating and personnel characteristics, and how the plan will be effected. (See also R-1621.)