AIM: To report on the experience of using digital technologies as a strategy for facilitating investigations. CASE REPORT: Increasing digitalization has led to greater proportions of the population accessing computers and the internet, and this has facilitated the use of these as research tools, for example, for delivering questionnaires. We sought to examine the extent to which these facilitate or limit the process of gathering data by assessing the process of the construction and collection of instruments for obtaining research data. The first benefit that we identified, and perhaps the most important, is the reduction in costs and materials because the need for printed questionnaires, envelopes, and mailing fees is eliminated. The return of the questionnaire is facilitated once it has been completed by online submission as the professional participant only requires internet access and can complete the survey anytime. Visually, the instrument can be worked on online to make it more attractive to the reader. It is also possible to split the data into sections and direct the respondent to specific issues in accordance with the option checked, which assists in the organization and optimization of response time. The data received remain in the network and are available in the form of an Excel spreadsheet that can be accessed from any computer. Notably, prior knowledge of the tool of choice for developing the instrument is required. CONCLUSION: This tool, if well explored, could be interesting for use in research, as a resource for gathering and analyzing data, in everyday clinical practice, and for teaching methodology and assessment.
