On Appropriate Evaluation Methodologies in the Context of Using Both Accident and Health Record Data

Accident and emergency informatics has become a new approach to accident research in the era of digitization, where it has become realistic to integrate data recorded at accident sites with data in electronic health records of patients. This chapter deals with the question on whether the existing and well-established evaluation methodologies used in accident-centered research as well as in patient-centered research within clinical medicine are sufficient and should also be used for such integrated data or whether they have to be modified or extended. Based on the Gaus-Muche-Nomenclature on studies in clinical medicine, it will be outlined which types of studies are appropriate here. In addition to observational studies and registers, controlled trials using randomization are also be regarded as an important approach for gaining new knowledge. In order to appropriately access data from health records and from accidents, standards for representing and communicating data for such studies will be of importance. Another criterion is referential integrity. Here and with respect to accidents the International Standard Accident Number (ISAN) may be of importance.