Open AccessConducting Record Review Studies in Clinical Practice
Author(s) -
Siddharth Sarkar
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of clinical and diagnostic research
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-782X
pISSN - 0973-709X
DOI - 10.7860/jcdr/2014/8301.4806
Subject(s) - confidentiality , strengths and weaknesses , chart , data extraction , computer science , data science , plan (archaeology) , source document , resource (disambiguation) , medline , information retrieval , psychology , computer security , political science , geography , social psychology , computer network , statistics , mathematics , archaeology , law
Clinical record review or chart review is a previously recorded data to answer clinical queries. Such a study can be used to answer specific clinical questions in a relatively easy and less resource intensive manner. But these studies may be constrained by the limited information retrievable and inadequacy of records. Various types of data sources may be available for conducting such reviews (like case charts, computerized registries, etc), each with specific strengths and weaknesses. The procedure usually consists of drawing up the research question, identifying the appropriate data source, devising a data extraction plan, extracting the data, checking for errors, data analysis, and appropriate archiving and dissemination of the findings. The ethical aspects in such studies primarily pertain to issues of informed consent and confidentiality. This paper provides a broad overview of how to go about a clinical record review, and serves as a ready reference for those who would like to undertake such record reviews.