Table 5.

Extracted intervention or technology characteristics

Study and country	Analytic method or model	Interventions studied or population per group (1=PPDCa; 2=EDCb)	Time horizon, discount rate, currency (base year)	Included cost inputs and assumptions (1=PPDC; 2=EDC)	Data quality outcome link with input cost
Njuguna et al [36], Ethiopia	HTC smartphone Software: FASTa kit: Microsoft Purchased	Direct to server with mobile network	Programmed checks and restrictions Error message notification for inaccurate data entry	Limited or poor internet network Occasional server communication breakdowns Delayed data submission	Data saved in the smartphone’s memory and later uploaded on to the server from convenient places
Ahmed et al [35], Sudan	Samsung smartphone Customized ODKb Open source	Mobile internet network	ODK functionalities	Limited or poor internet network in certain areas Unexpected software closure or freeze Accessibility of the aggregate website in Sudan was challenging Using Arabic language in the ODK was challenging for form development and data retrieval	Used ODK offline and submitted the data after restarting the smartphone
King et al [7], Ethiopia	Samsung tablet computer Swift Insights Mobile 1.1 Barcode scanner 4.3.1 Open source developed	SDc card with password-protected downloading to the supervisor’s laptop	ODK functionalities+ User-defined survey preferences, generation of unique record identification (Textbox 1)	Limited or poor internet network in certain areas	Data stored first on the supervisor laptop and then uploaded to the local server to maintain the sovereignty and security of the data set
Flexman et al [34], Bangladesh and Philippines	Samsung tablets ODK Customized in ODK	Direct to server with mobile network	ODK functionalities (no explicit description)	Sufficiently strong internet network	Purchase memory cards for the tablets to back up data locally
Giduthuri et al [37], India	Samsung Note external recorder Enhanced ODK development	Encrypted and uploaded over a Wi-Fi connection to a central server after returning to the office	Not described	Required highly trained interviewers Data loss by the interviewer due to accidentally pressing the delete button	Not described
Musaka et al [38], Tanzania	PDA BlackBerry HRSd software BlackBerry OSe Customized in HRS software	Micro SD card	Skip function	Device stopped functioning during interview or submission	Not described
McLean et al [39], Malawi	Toshiba tablets and Samsung smartphones ODK Contractual payment for form development	Secured wireless network (not relayed on phone network)	ODK functionalities	The existing wireless network was sufficiently strong to upload the data Adequate battery life for a day Lack of internal staff for form development Required outsourcing cost 11 of 92 tablets broke in 4 years and had to be replaced Only 1 functioning tablet and 1 smartphone went missing over the 4-year period	A dedicated, secured device charging area
Dillon et al [41], South Africa	Tablet, PC, and mobile phone Self-developed a C#-based program with XML	Data transfer through USB connections, avoiding the need for a constant internet connection	Facilitate data checks and early detection and correction of faulty procedures and data management	A well-run staff training program Staff was already technically trained Lack of reliable internet connection	Data transfer through USB
Jing et al [43], China	Smartphone ODK and importing and extraction software ODK Briefcase v 1.4 Production	Stored safely on the smartphone and uploaded to a computer secured by a password. Compiled data sent to the country coordinator	ODK functionalities	Interviewers do not have direct access to submit the data to the server in Washington, forcing them to store the data on the smartphones for a short period Loss of data due to smartphone damage Uploading data was a challenge for older smartphone users	Building a server in China that can be easily accessed would facilitate improved data security and immediate assignment of cause of death on smartphones at the time of interview
Byass et al [44], Burkina Faso	PDA Pendragon 4 software programmed	Data copied for PDAs’ memory cards	GPS, time stamp	Use several available mobile-charging arrangements in vehicles or solar panels Temporary system clock changes in a few PDAs Some incomplete GPS data strings 48/151 PDA encountered technical errors	Saving data from the PDAs’ internal volatile memory to nonvolatile memory cards. Protective plastic cover for the safety of PDA was important
Maduga et al [46], Nigeria	Mobile phone ODK Android Locally customized	Trained to upload completed forms onto a secure server, with back-end access provided to only the research team lead	ODK functionalities	Limited network connection Fluctuation of power and internet connection	The extra 2 phones served as backup in the event of malfunction or challenges with the global system for mobile communication mobile and data networks. Multiple SIM cards were provided in an attempt to mitigate the problem

^aFAST: Field Adapted Survey Toolkit.

^bODK: Open Data Kit.

^cSD: Secure Digital.

^dHRS: Household Registration System.

^eOS: operating system.