title: Database production and maintenance.
abstract: The advent of computers and electronic databases have revolutionized the way that clinical research is done. If study inclusion criteria are saved in the database, creating a study population can be accomplished by constructing an electronic query. Prospectively-entered outcome data related to a particular patient population then can be accessed and exported to a statistical software application for analysis. The senior author has more than 2 decades of experience with computer-based clinical outcome databases. In the context of his personal experience, this review offers some insights related to database design and maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute, Alexandria, VA 22307, USA.
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Engh
authors.forename: C Anderson
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Engh
authors.forename: Jarrod P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Nagowski
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hopper
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008283:Maintenance; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000639:trends; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012985:Software Design