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How can the research potential of the clinical quality databases be maximized? The Danish experience
Author(s) -
Nørgaard M.,
Johnsen S. P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1111/joim.12437
Subject(s) - quality (philosophy) , medicine , danish , database , data quality , strengths and weaknesses , clinical research , order (exchange) , medline , risk analysis (engineering) , business , finance , marketing , computer science , metric (unit) , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology , pathology , political science , law
In Denmark, the need for monitoring of clinical quality and patient safety with feedback to the clinical, administrative and political systems has resulted in the establishment of a network of more than 60 publicly financed nationwide clinical quality databases. Although primarily devoted to monitoring and improving quality of care, the potential of these databases as data sources in clinical research is increasingly being recognized. In this review, we describe these databases focusing on their use as data sources for clinical research, including their strengths and weaknesses as well as future concerns and opportunities. The research potential of the clinical quality databases is substantial but has so far only been explored to a limited extent. Efforts related to technical, legal and financial challenges are needed in order to take full advantage of this potential.