Data were entered into spreadsheets at each centre, and then transferred to the data collection centre (Headache and Drug Abuse Centre, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia).
Data were entered locally in each centre into spreadsheets provided, and the completed spreadsheets transferred to the central data collection centre (Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology , University Hospital of University Duisburg-Essen where they were merged and analyzed by Sara Schramm.
Between June 2001 and June 2002 a multidisciplinary study team set up a data collection centre in each village.
After entering was completed, data were transferred via Internet to the data collection centre at the former Institute for Numerical Statistics (IFNS, acquired by Omnicare Inc. in 1999) in Cologne, Germany.
The Merlin.Net™ PCN is a dedicated, virtual data collection centre, accessible via an Internet site protected by a username and password.
All in-hospital data were obtained after written informed consent had been received and were then transmitted to the data collection centre at the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan, for processing and analysis.
Following consent to participate, individuals were asked to complete two self-reported questionnaires and were asked to return these when they attended the HCS data collection centre, at which time a series of clinical measures were obtained.
The Merlin.net site also represents a virtual data collection centre, easily and ubiquitously accessible via a simple Internet connection, because this allows physicians to know important device diagnostic data and to react in case of alerts due to patient's or device's issues.
