A user-oriented validation method for clinical data

The patient data in hospitals is prone to many errors during computerization because of the large human element involved during the processes concerned. A user-oriented validation method, which has been found to be practical and acceptable, is suggested. A non-statistical approach is adopted in this regard. The qualitative requirements of all users for validation have been taken as the guidelines to achieve maximum user acceptability. A user-oriented data code sheet, whose format changes for different disease groups, has been devised to prevent most of the typographical errors. These code sheets have also been found to be of considerable help to doctors in keeping a check on any missed or incomplete investigations, examinations and history recording. The validation program detects all errors of a typographical nature and all commonly possible logical errors. In addition, the program outputs data values, whose accuracy is doubtful, in the form of warning messages like WARNED DATA and ERRONEOUS DATA. The data fields which do not contain any data are also output to help the clinicians to take note of investigations and clinical tests not done or whose results are awaited. The logical errors, if any, also help them in detecting and identifying atypical cases in any given disease group at the earliest possible stage of a patient's hospitalization. In this paper, the need for a user-oriented and non-statistical approach to the validation of clinical data has been discussed in detail and its advantages enumerated.