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Generic design of Web-based clinical databases.

¹AstraZeneca A/S, Business Communication, Roskildevej 22, DK-2620 Albertslund, Denmark. jacob@anhoej.net

Journal of Medical Internet Research

|January 10, 2004

Summary

The Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV) model offers a flexible solution for clinical databases, simplifying data storage in a single table. This generic design enhances data retrieval but requires careful consideration of front-end programming and query efficiency.

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Area of Science:

Medical Informatics
Database Design
Health Data Management

Background:

Clinical databases face challenges due to the complexity and rapid evolution of medical information.
Conventional relational databases require schema modifications for new or changed data types, hindering flexibility.
An ideal clinical database should accommodate diverse data without frequent physical schema alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

To conduct a literature review on generic design principles for clinical databases.
To identify effective strategies for managing the evolving nature of clinical data.

Main Methods:

A comprehensive search was performed using PubMed and Google.
The search focused on peer-reviewed articles and web resources related to generic clinical database design.
Relevant literature was systematically reviewed to identify common design patterns.

Main Results:

The Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV) design emerged as a key strategy for simplifying clinical database physical layouts.
EAV allows storing all data in a single, generic table with entity, attribute, and value columns, offering flexibility and entity-centered retrieval.
Disadvantages include complex front-end programming and less efficient attribute-centered queries, though web technologies can mitigate these.

Conclusions:

The Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV) model is a valuable approach for generic clinical database design.
The complexity of metadata models can be tailored based on specific application needs.
EAV facilitates adaptable clinical data management systems.

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