Volume 10, Number 7—July 2004
Research
Collecting Data To Assess SARS Interventions
R. Douglas Scott*
, Edward Gregg*, and Martin I. Meltzer*
, Edward Gregg*, and Martin I. Meltzer*Table A1
Explanation of data in Figure 1a
| Column | Priority group | Variable | Type | Suggested coding | Comments/details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information | |||||
| A | 1 | Patient ID | Numeric or character | 1, 2, 3, …n | |
| B | 1 | Sex | Categories | 1 = male 2 = female | |
| C | 1 | Age | Continuous | e.g. 25, 26 | |
| D |
3 |
Coexisting condition |
Categories |
0 = none known
1 = CVD
2 = diabetes
3 = COPD
4 = HIV/AIDS
5 = other
6 = unknown |
Important to differentiate none known from unknown |
| Exposure dataa | |||||
| Exposure 1 | |||||
| E | 1 | Date | Date | DD/MM/YY | |
| F | 1 | Source ID | Numeric or character | ID of source patient or unknown | Identify, using patient ID, the presumed source of infection |
| G | 2 | Duration | Categories | 1 = <30 min 2 = 30–59 min 3 = >60 min | Other categories of duration of exposure can be used. Must define "exposure" |
| H |
2 |
Locale |
Categories |
1 = home
2 = hospital
3 = other |
Other exposure locales can be added as needed |
| Exposure 2 | |||||
| I–L and M–P | b | c | c | c | c |
| Symptoms, respiratory | |||||
| Q | 1 | Symptom onset date | Date | DD/MM/YY | Need to define the term "symptom" |
| R | 3 | Symptom category | Categories | d | Record all that are applicable and adjust as needed |
| Symptoms, non respiratory | |||||
| S | 1 | Symptom onset date | Date | DD/MM/YY | Need to define the term "symptom" |
| T | 3 | Symptom category | Categories | d | Record all that are applicable and adjust as needed |
aCan expand to as many exposures as needed.
bSame as E–H.
cRepeat for each exposure.
d1 = fever; 2 = cough; 3 = myalgia; 4 = dyspnea; 5 = headache; 6 = malaise; 7 = chills; 8 = diarrhea; 9 = nausea/vomiting; 10 = sore throat; 11 = arthralgia; 12 = chest pain; 13 = productive cough; 14 = vomiting; 15 = rhinorrhea/runny nose; 16 = nonheadache neurologic symptoms (e.g., dizziness); 17 = abdominal pain.
