Analysis of data errors in clinical research databases.
- 6 November 2008
- journal article
- Vol. 2008, 242-6
Abstract
Errors in clinical research databases are common but relatively little is known about their characteristics and optimal detection and prevention strategies. We have analyzed data from several clinical research databases at a single academic medical center to assess frequency, distribution and features of data entry errors. Error rates detected by the double-entry method ranged from 2.3 to 26.9%. Errors were due to both mistakes in data entry and to misinterpretation of the information in the original documents. Error detection based on data constraint failure significantly underestimated total error rates and constraint-based alarms integrated into the database appear to prevent only a small fraction of errors. Many errors were non-random, organized in special and cognitive clusters, and some could potentially affect the interpretation of the study results. Further investigation is needed into the methods for detection and prevention of data errors in research.This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- Improving the quality of data entry in a low-budget head injury databaseActa Neurochirurgica, 2007
- Defining and Improving Data Quality in Medical Registries: A Literature Review, Case Study, and Generic FrameworkJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 2002
- Epidemiology of medical errorBMJ, 2000
- The quality of abstracting medical information from the medical record: the impact of training programmes.International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 1999
- APACHE II, data accuracy and outcome predictionAnaesthesia, 1998
- Double Data Entry: What Value, What Price?Controlled Clinical Trials, 1998
- Data quality in population-based cancer registration: an assessment of the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer RegistryBritish Journal of Cancer, 1997
- Systems analysis of adverse drug events. ADE Prevention Study Group.1995
- Relationship between medication errors and adverse drug eventsJournal of General Internal Medicine, 1995
- A pilot study on the quality of data management in a cancer clinical trialControlled Clinical Trials, 1987