title: Large datasets: common uses and caveats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasingly, large collections of pre-existing data are being used to analyze the occurrence, burden, and health care resources directed to the management of various skin diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article discusses a number of different types of large datasets along with their common uses. Various concerns about the use of this information are also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although large datasets provide significant statistical power with readily available data, there are significant concerns, particularly regarding data quality and statistical analysis. Readers need to be aware of how an investigator has addressed these issues. Furthermore, the profession needs to be cognizant of very legitimate public concerns regarding confidentiality of personal information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Safavi
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D006302:Health Services Research; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D018907:Privacy; D012871:Skin Diseases