Whether current approaches to improving data systems, including further training, simplified data collecting systems, or the use of sophisticated electronic data validation systems will be sufficient to provide more reliable data remains to be determined.
Electronic data validation systems will ensure that data sets conform to the agreed data models and the quality and adequacy of the submitted data will be regularly reviewed from a clinical perspective.
A single, web-based data entry form ensures the uniformity of information from diverse sources, while an automated data-validation system allows for continuous and timely updates and additions.
The UNMC also adopted a new data validation process following system implementation.
All the participating hospitals are part of the Finnish Intensive Care Consortium, and all the ICUs, except one, use the same electronic data management systems and data validation software (Web Validator; Tieto, Helsinki, Finland).
The final enrichment of the system was done by the development of a criteria-based validation system: Only validated data was incorporated into the evaluation backup file.
High risk data had a two part validation system to match variables across databases.
- A system of data validation should be put in place to minimize errors in collection and entry.
The system also supports data validation and facilitates quality assurance, and is backed up comprehensively every working day.
This secure, web-based system provides robust data validation routines, custom reporting and straightforward integration with statistical software packages such as SAS (utilised for this investigation).
