Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Propensity Score using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index
Published on: January 8, 2020
Measurement error and misclassification in electronic medical records: methods to mitigate bias
Jessica C Young1, Mitchell M Conover1, Michele Jonsson Funk1
1Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
We sought to: 1) examine common sources of measurement error in research using data from electronic medical records (EMR), 2) discuss methods to assess the extent and type of measurement error, and 3) describe recent developments in methods to address this source of bias.
Recent Findings:
We identified eight sources of measurement error frequently encountered in EMR studies, the most prominent being that EMR data usually reflect only the health services and medications delivered within the specific health facility/system contributing to the EMR data. Methods for assessing measurement error in EMR data usually require gold standard or validation data, which may be possible using data linkage. Recent methodological developments to address the impact of measurement error in EMR analyses were particularly rich in the multiple imputation literature.
Summary:
Presently, sources of measurement error impacting EMR studies are still being elucidated, as are methods for assessing and addressing them. Given the magnitude of measurement error that has been reported, investigators are urged to carefully evaluate and rigorously address this potential source of bias in studies based in EMR data.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Systematic Error: Methodological and Sampling Errors
Sampling errors originate from improper sampling methods or the wrong sample population. These errors can be minimized by refining the sampling strategy. Defective instruments or faulty calibrations are the sources of instrumental...
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring
Several factors...
Methods of Documentation VII: EMR
Bias
In statistics, a sampling bias is created when a sample is collected from a population, and some members of the population are not as likely to be chosen as others (remember, each member...
Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...

