Methodological Challenges when Using Routinely Collected Health Data for Research: A scoping review.

• DOI: 10.23889/ijpds.v9i5.2610
• Publication Date: 2024-09-10T16:08:03Z
• Authors: Lili Wei; Ellen Kuenzig; James Im; Yan Zheng; Taylor McLinden; Scott Emerson; Azza Eissa; Henry Halder; Richard Shaw; An-Wen Chan; William Dixon; Vera Ehrenstein; Astrid Guttmann; Katie Harron; Lars G. Hemkens; Asbjørn Hróbjartsson; Ronan Lyons; Shannon E. MacDonald; Jerry Maniate; David Moher; Irene Petersen; Hude Quan; Sigrún Schmidt; Henrik Sørensen; Shirley Wang; David A. McAllister; Sinéad M. Langan; Eric I. Benchimol
• Keywords: Demography. Population. Vital events; HB848-3697

Routinely collected health data (RCD) including electronic records, disease registries, administrative and wearables are not specifically for research purposes. Analysis of these poses unique methodological challenges that must be addressed when conducting research, particularly as availability use increase. This scoping review aimed to identify in using RCD from existing literature (registered protocol: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/EBM4D). We searched 6 databases, medical, economics, nursing psychology between Jan 2015 2023, combining multiple “RCD” “research” search terms (e.g., epidemiologic, informatics, pharmaceutical research). After screening abstracts full-texts, we doubly extracted themes, categorizing them into different study stages. screened more than 23,000 records included 430 papers. Bias confounding were the most common issues identified, discussed relation both design analysis. Data quality, accuracy, validation, completeness, timeliness cleaning, also posed substantial challenges, during processing stage. Record linkage analyses distributed networks pose challenges. Heterogeneity, incorporating social determinants statistical models address described literature. External validity reporting important considerations research. Our identified several facing researchers RCD. These should ensure methodologically sound findings will inform development a standardized protocol template accompanying educational platform at enhancing quality transparency