ReadSoft DOCUMENTS for FORMS software has been selected to rapidly process responses to over 100,000 questionnaires being sent out as part of a major UK study into the causes of breast cancer.

This study is being carried out by The Institute of Cancer Research, one of the world's leading cancer research organisations, and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the UK’s leading breast cancer charity, and will examine the risk factors relating to breast cancer. A comprehensive questionnaire is being sent out to over 100,000 volunteers, and their responses will be immediately scanned, verified and archived electronically using ReadSoft DOCUMENTS for FORMS software. This will enable the results to be further analysed with the goal of discovering the causes of breast cancer so that in future the disease may be preventable.

Dr Michael Jones of The Institute of Cancer Research said: "With previous surveys we had to key in the data on the forms manually, which was very time-consuming and meant we couldn’t see the results immediately. Using ReadSoft for this survey we can scan the questionnaires as soon as they come in and get an immediate ‘snapshot’ of the responses."

ReadSoft worked closely with The Institute in the design of the questionnaire to help capture information more easily and accurately. "We sent out several hundred questionnaires in a pilot scheme and have scanned 400 already. We’ve been looking at the data closely and revising the survey forms, taking out questions which didn’t work and changing the way responses are entered to improve clarity," added Dr Jones.

As well as reducing the time and cost of processing the survey, The Institute of Cancer Research can deploy staff more productively in checking and verifying data, rather than keying it in manually. Four staff are involved in processing at the moment, and this will increase as the survey gathers momentum. With the results stored electronically, The Institute can also benefit from less costly offsite storage of the paper records.