title: Database Research for Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
abstract: Multiple electronic and administrative databases are available for the study of pediatric infectious diseases. In this review, we identify research questions well suited to investigations using these databases and highlight their advantages, including their relatively low cost, efficiency, and ability to detect rare outcomes. We discuss important limitations, including those inherent in observational study designs and the potential for misclassification of exposures and outcomes, and identify strategies for addressing these limitations. We provide examples of commonly used databases and discuss methodologic considerations in undertaking studies using large databases. Last, we propose a checklist for use in planning or evaluating studies of pediatric infectious diseases that employ electronic databases, and we outline additional practical considerations regarding the cost of and how to access commonly used databases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute, Washington.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kronman
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri.
authors.forename: Jason G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Newland
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hersh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research / Q000379:methods; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000379:methods; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D055552:Infectious Disease Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*
keywords: administrative; database; epidemiology; infectious diseases; pediatrics