The Software

ECFSTracker is accessed from the internet and has a simple, user-friendly interface. It is structured in such a way that additional modules can be added in the future e.g. to collect project specific clinical data or to refine data analysis and extraction for specific scientific or health services research.

Advanced security technology is employed to ensure data is safely managed. There are strict rules for de-identification of data and user management, and the system complies with European data protection laws.

Data input

Authorised users connect to the secure website and either input data by completing a web-based form, or upload a data file in Excel format.  Only anonymised patient data  – i.e. no patient or centre names  –  are sent to the ECFSPR database. Pre-agreed variable definitions, parameters and coding are used,  to allow reliable statistical analysis and reporting at centre, country and European level.

Participating centres can choose to input patient information once a year, or to collect lineair data from individual patient visits throughout the year, in real-time. From the completed encounter forms, once a year, an Annual Summary with anonymised data is extracted from the system and exported to the ECFSPR.

Online сhecker

The Online Checker is a built-in tool on the ECFSTracker homepage that helps users validate national data files before submission. It scans for general formatting and content errors and provides a summary report highlighting issues that need correction. This ensures cleaner, more reliable data uploads and reduces the need for post-submission revisions.