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Building a Database of Data Sets for Health Services Research
1Center for Medical Informatics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Proceedings. Symposium on Computer Applications in Medical Care
|January 1, 1994
Summary
A new online directory, the Database of Data Sets (DB/DS) for Health Services Research, is being developed to help researchers find health care data. This pilot study explored challenges in creating this valuable resource.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Informatics
- Data Management
Background:
- Access to diverse health care data sets is crucial for research and policy-making.
- Existing resources may not offer a comprehensive or easily searchable directory of available data.
- The National Library of Medicine (NLM) serves a community of researchers, policymakers, administrators, and practitioners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a pilot phase for the Database of Data Sets (DB/DS) for Health Services Research.
- To explore the challenges and issues involved in creating a searchable online directory of health care data sets.
- To assess the feasibility of including a broad range of data types.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a pilot study of the DB/DS project.
- Explored issues related to database creation and management.
- Utilized an initial set of 20 representative health care data sets.
Main Results:
- Identified key challenges in developing a comprehensive health data set directory.
- Demonstrated the potential for an online searchable database to serve researchers.
- Highlighted the importance of addressing restrictions and confidentiality safeguards.
Conclusions:
- The pilot phase provided valuable insights into creating the DB/DS for Health Services Research.
- Further development is needed to establish a robust and widely accessible data set directory.
- The DB/DS has the potential to significantly benefit health services research by improving data accessibility.