We report on the implementation experience of carrying out data collection and other activities for a public health evaluation study on whether U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) investment improved utilization of health services and health system strengthening in Uganda. The retrospective study period focused on the PEPFAR scale-up, from mid-2005 through mid-2011, a period of expansion of PEPFAR programing and health services. We visited 315 health care facilities in Uganda in 2011 and 2012 to collect routine health management information system data forms, as well as to conduct interviews with health system leaders. An earlier phase of this research project collected data from all 112 health district headquarters, reported elsewhere. This article describes the lessons learned from collecting data from health care facilities, project management, useful technologies, and mistakes. We used several new technologies to facilitate data collection, including portable document scanners, smartphones, and web-based data collection, along with older but reliable technologies such as car batteries for power, folding tables to create space, and letters of introduction from appropriate authorities to create entrée. Research in limited-resource settings requires an approach that values the skills and talents of local people, institutions and government agencies, and a tolerance for the unexpected. The development of personal relationships was key to the success of the project. We observed that capacity building activities were repaid many fold, especially in data management and technology.

中文翻译：

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在乌干达开展大型公共卫生数据收集项目：方法，工具和经验教训。

我们报告进行数据收集和其他活动的实施经验，以进行公共卫生评估研究，以研究美国总统的艾滋病紧急救援计划（PEPFAR）投资是否改善了乌干达的卫生服务利用和卫生系统建设。回顾性研究期的重点是从2005年中期到2011年中期扩大PEPFAR，这是PEPFAR计划和卫生服务扩展的时期。2011年和2012年，我们访问了乌干达的315家医疗机构，收集了常规的健康管理信息系统数据表，并与卫生系统负责人进行了访谈。该研究项目的早期阶段收集了来自所有112个卫生区总部的数据，其他地方也进行了报道。本文介绍了从医疗机构，项目管理，有用的技术和错误中收集数据的经验教训。我们使用了多种新技术来促进数据收集，包括便携式文档扫描仪，智能手机和基于Web的数据收集，以及较旧但可靠的技术，例如汽车电池供电，折叠桌以创造空间以及相关机构的介绍信创建实体。在资源有限的环境中进行研究需要一种重视当地人，机构和政府机构的技能和才华的方法，以及对意外情况的容忍度。人际关系的发展是该项目成功的关键。我们注意到，能力建设活动得到了很多回报，特别是在数据管理和技术方面。