Data Quality in Clinical Research

Every scientist knows that research results are only as good as the data upon which the conclusions were formed. However, most scientists receive no training in methods for achieving, assessing, or controlling the quality of research data—topics central to clinical research informatics. This chapter covers the basics of acquiring or collecting and processing data for research given the available data sources, systems, and people. Data quality dimensions specific to the clinical research context are used, and a framework for data quality practice and planning is developed. Available research is summarized, providing estimates of data quality capability for common clinical research data collection and processing methods. This chapter provides researchers, informaticists, and clinical research data managers basic tools to assure, assess, and control the quality of data for research.