Anyware's ReForm Helps™ STOP AIDS

The STOP AIDS Project works to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Recognized internationally for its grassroots efforts, the project conducts behavioral assessment surveys in the San Francisco community and reports findings to researchers and government. STOP AIDS turned to Anyware to mobilize its effort against a dreaded disease.

Committed to reporting accurate data about sexual behaviors, the STOP AIDS Project has canvassed the San Francisco community using paper questionnaires for over twenty years. Completed surveys were handed off to the city's Department of Public Health where workers manually typed responses into a local, stand-alone database.

As much as six months later, STOP AIDS got back a data dump and manually re-entered the data into their own system before generating valuable reports for the California Department of AIDS, Johns Hopkins, and the University of California, San Francisco.

The Paper Problem
Over time, the number of questions increased to more than 100, and the paper survey itself became an issue. Often, respondents refused to take the lengthy survey. Misplaced surveys and data lost during the complex paper shuffle raised concerns about accuracy and completeness. And due to the effort involved, STOPS AIDS delivered reports only once a year.

Jamey Frank, IT manager at STOP AIDS, turned to Anyware Mobile Solutions for answers.

"Anyware and ReForm have helped us overcome a big bottleneck with our
behavioral assessment survey and do a better job fighting HIV/AIDS."
Jamey Frank, IT Manager
STOP AIDS Project

Mobilizing Against AIDS
Anyware delivered a total mobile solution designed around its ReForm™ mobile data collection platform, which includes a customized ReForm mobile survey running on Palm handhelds, instant Wi-Fi upload of survey data to centralized Anyware databases, and seamless integration with STOP AIDS' in-house data platforms.

Today, thanks to the 'cool' new mobile assessment, more respondents agree to take the survey and the data is more honest and accurate. Intelligent ReForm logic also helps streamline interviews and improve accuracy. If respondents indicate they practice safe sex, their "yes" response calls up questions about safe behaviors. A "no" response results in questions about unsafe behaviors.

In addition, STOP AIDS personnel now upload responses directly to a secure, centralized Anyware database. With no paper and no re-keying, data loss has been virtually eliminated, further ensuring the highest accuracy. And because data is always current and available, reports are now generated every two weeks.

"The bottom line," said Frank, "is that Anyware and ReForm help us do a better job fighting HIV/AIDS."