Finding "truth" across different data sources

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Clinical Research
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• New technologies enable better integration of clinical and patient-reported health data.
• Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) offer critical insights into patient experiences and value in healthcare.
• PROs, combined with clinical data, provide a comprehensive view of individual and population health.

Discussion:

• Cancer survivorship research increasingly utilizes diverse health data, including PROs, due to advances in treatment and detection.
• Key challenges include determining optimal data sources and validation methods for research.
• A recent study by Hamood et al. in IJHPR made progress in validating PRO data for research.

Key Insights:

• PRO data can significantly enhance understanding of cancer survivorship, including long-term adverse effects.
• Limitations in current research include small sample sizes and a narrow focus on specific cancer types and outcomes.
• Validation of non-clinical data elements is essential for expanding research capabilities.

Outlook:

• Widespread Electronic Health Record (EHR) adoption facilitates the systematic collection of diverse health data.
• Future research will increasingly compare and validate non-clinical data captured through electronic systems.
• Enhanced data validation will empower cancer survivorship researchers to address a wider range of patient and outcome-related questions.