Experience in Data Collection for Dialysis Cost-Effectiveness Research
1. Purpose of Data Collection: The data collection for the research project on dialysis cost-effectiveness aimed to assess the economic impact of dialysis treatment, focusing on factors such as treatment costs, outcomes, and resource utilization. The primary goal was to determine the cost-effectiveness of dialysis as a treatment option.
2. Primary or Secondary Data Collection: The data collection process involves primary data collection. This means that the data was gathered firsthand from the electronic medical records (EMR) of dialysis patients, specifically for this research project.
3. Methods Used for Data Collection: As a fifth-year pharmacy student involved in the research project, I utilized structured data collection forms to extract relevant information from the EMR. These forms may have included variables such as patient demographics, dialysis treatment details, laboratory results, medication use, and healthcare utilization patterns.
4. Problems Encountered: During the data collection process, challenges such as incomplete or missing data, discrepancies in record-keeping, and issues with data quality were found. It’s common to encounter difficulties in extracting specific data points from EMRs, especially when dealing with large datasets or complex medical histories.