Improving health care data quality: A practitioner's perspective

Abstract

Health care is increasingly an information-driven activity, and therefore, the quality of the underlying data assumes critical importance. This paper identifies the origins and characteristics of health data, and surveys their acquisition and usage in the delivery and planning of modern health care. The factors that influence data quality are discussed, together with an assessment of the main quality issues and a rigorous account of strategies for improving data quality, including a review of various national strategies. The study exposes the theoretical foundations and practicalities of health data quality enhancement and demonstrates the significant benefits that a data quality improvement strategy can bring across the whole spectrum of health care.