TY - JOUR
T1 - Development and use of a flexible data harmonization platform to facilitate the harmonization of individual patient data for meta-analyses
AU - Kalter, Joeri
AU - Sweegers, Maike G.
AU - Verdonck-De Leeuw, Irma M.
AU - Brug, Johannes
AU - Buffart, Laurien M.
PY - 2019/3/22
Y1 - 2019/3/22
N2 - Objective: Harmonizing individual patient data (IPD) for meta-analysis has clinical and statistical advantages. Harmonizing IPD from multiple studies may benefit from a flexible data harmonization platform (DHP) that allows harmonization of IPD already during data collection. This paper describes the development and use of a flexible DHP that was initially developed for the Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) study. Results: The DHP that we developed (I) allows IPD harmonization with a flexible approach, (II) has the ability to store data in a centralized and secured database server with large capacity, (III) is transparent and easy in use, and (IV) has the ability to export harmonized IPD and corresponding data dictionary to a statistical program. The DHP uses Microsoft Access as front-end application and requires a relational database management system such as Microsoft Structured Query Language (SQL) Server or MySQL as back-end application. The DHP consists of five user friendly interfaces which support the user to import original study data, to harmonize the data with a master data dictionary, and to export the harmonized data into a statistical software program of choice for further analyses. The DHP is now also adopted in two other studies.
AB - Objective: Harmonizing individual patient data (IPD) for meta-analysis has clinical and statistical advantages. Harmonizing IPD from multiple studies may benefit from a flexible data harmonization platform (DHP) that allows harmonization of IPD already during data collection. This paper describes the development and use of a flexible DHP that was initially developed for the Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) study. Results: The DHP that we developed (I) allows IPD harmonization with a flexible approach, (II) has the ability to store data in a centralized and secured database server with large capacity, (III) is transparent and easy in use, and (IV) has the ability to export harmonized IPD and corresponding data dictionary to a statistical program. The DHP uses Microsoft Access as front-end application and requires a relational database management system such as Microsoft Structured Query Language (SQL) Server or MySQL as back-end application. The DHP consists of five user friendly interfaces which support the user to import original study data, to harmonize the data with a master data dictionary, and to export the harmonized data into a statistical software program of choice for further analyses. The DHP is now also adopted in two other studies.
KW - Centralized and secured database server
KW - Easy in use infrastructure
KW - Flexible data harmonization platform
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UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30902064
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4210-7
DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4210-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 30902064
SN - 1756-0500
VL - 12
SP - 1
EP - 6
JO - BMC Research Notes
JF - BMC Research Notes
IS - 1
M1 - 164
ER -