2015 Scottish Maternity Care Survey Technical Report

6 Data Entry and fieldwork quality control

Scanning process and data capture

6.1 Once the survey was issued, paper copies of questionnaires received were scanned on a daily basis by staff at Quality Health Ltd. A verification process was then carried out for each batch scanned and a number of checks were undertaken to ensure that the scanning process had worked correctly.

6.2 All verification staff at Quality Health Ltd were given in-house training and detailed instructions about this survey to ensure that any particular nuances in the data, critical questions and coding rules were understood. Managers were on hand at all times to answer queries or provide additional advice.

6.3 A mandatory look up was in place to check multi-choice questions response options, or where there was doubt in respect of multiple marks on the page, crossing out, changes of mind or routing issues.

6.4 The data entry system ensured that only valid answer codes for each question could be entered and that the correct data appeared in each field. Other checks included ensuring that numeric data was the correct format and that fields were not truncated in error.

Secure disposal

6.5 Once processed, all returned questionnaires were immediately stored in labelled containers and archived in a secure room on-site until they reach their agreed destruction date. Once destroyed a certificate of destruction was received.

Free text comments

6.6 The survey asked respondents if there was anything else that they would like to tell us about their experiences of their maternity care. Almost 2,700 comments were left by almost 1,250 mothers (with some mothers commenting on more than one section).

6.7 Disclosive details that could be used to identify women were suppressed when the comments were entered. These details included personal names, addresses, ages, dates, medications and medical conditions. Staff names were also suppressed.

6.8 Quality checks were undertaken on records to ensure that the free text comments were linked to the correct record and that the instructions for suppressing disclosive details were followed.