Standardizing Healthcare Datasets in China: Challenges and Strategies

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Informatization
• Data Standards
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Standardized healthcare datasets are crucial for data quality and value.
• China's healthcare dataset standards have evolved significantly from 2011-2025.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the evolution and identify challenges in China's healthcare dataset standards.
• To propose strategies for optimizing healthcare data standards and governance.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis
• Content analysis of healthcare dataset standards (2011-2025)

Main Results:

• Substantial growth in quantity, optimized typology, and expanded applications (e.g., health decision support).
• Identified challenges: imbalanced development, inadequate quality control, and missing metadata (e.g., data element mappings, privacy annotations).

Conclusions:

• Optimizing standard architecture, quality, governance (tracing, privacy), and intelligent services is essential.
• Proposed strategies aim to enhance dataset standard application and foster healthcare's new productive forces.