1. An observational study piloted the use of the KoBo digital toolkit to conduct psychosocial needs assessments of children in post-disaster settings in Haiti. 2. Using KoBo, researchers created assessment forms, collected data via mobile phones, synced the data to a laptop for analysis, and found the toolkit streamlined the data collection process. 3. Feedback from interviewers and researchers suggested KoBo was an appropriate research tool that allowed easier and faster data collection and real-time feedback to inform activities.

1. KoBo: A Digital Tool, in Psychosocial Needs Assessment of Children
in Post Disaster Resiliency Settings.
Srihari Cattamanchi1,3
, Moira Hennessy2,3
, Sara Carson3
, Majed Aljohani1,3
, Abdulrahman S. Alqahtani1,3
,
Phough Pham2
, Patrick Vinck2
, Michael S Molloy1
, Gregory R. Ciottone1,3
OBJECTIVES
1.Harvard Affiliated Disaster Medicine Emergency Medicine Fellowship, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
2.Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, MA
3.Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Boston, MA
METHODS
Official hospital of
the
Boston Red Sox
CONCLUSION
RESULTSINTRODUCTION
• The KoBo platform (developed by Phuong Pham, Patrick Vinck
and John Etherton) is a free, open access resource for creation of
digital forms and research structures, data collection,
consolidation and analysis.
• KoBo has been designed for rapid implementation in austere
conditions, and has been used in various third world countries of
Africa and Asia.
To pilot use of KoBo as a digital tool and to explore its utility in
psychosocial assessment of children in unique research settings.
• Using the KoBo toolkit a total of 130 children and 15 caregivers
were interviewed at 6 CiH orphanages successfully by 2 local
community health workers, supported by an expatriate social
worker and psychologist in August 2012.
• The local and expatriate research team reported:
• KoBo allowed for “easier” collection of data in a shorter
period of time.
• The platform was easily understood and mastered by
interviewers, with a brief overview of how to use the cell-
phone technology.
• The non-paper format was easier to back up, transport, was
cost-effective and time saving.
• Children appeared comfortable conducting interviews with
staff using this technology, and did not appear distracted by
its use.
• Syncing of data daily, allowed for rapid informal feedback of
the data to inform ongoing activities with sites in real time.
• Researchers subjective report of the data, suggested that this
format lead to less unanswered responses than experienced
elsewhere, and attention to time stamping
• KoBo Toolkit was useful in psychosocial assessment of
children in a post-disaster Haitian setting.
• Interviewers and researchers found it to be an appropriate
research tool to streamline the data collection process and
allow for connection with participants.
• An observational study, piloted the use of KoBo
platform in post disaster resiliency settings of Haiti,
aiding in psychosocial needs assessment of the
vulnerable population.
• KoBo Form was used to create a quantitative &
qualitative assessment form.
• The data were collected using KoBoCollect installed on
Android Mobile phones.
• The data was synchronized onto our Laptop using
KoboSync, converted into excel database, and analyzed
via SPSS.
• With regard to feedback on KoBo toolkit, individual
reporting and daily research team debriefing on use of
the toolkit offered subjective reports on experience &
appropriateness of KoBo toolkit.
KoBo Process
REFERENCE
• http://www.kobotoolbox.org/
• http://www.kobotoolbox.org/about/kobo-research
• http://www.kobotoolbox.org/about/system-diagram