title: Structured data quality reports to improve EHR data quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether a structured data quality report (SDQR) and feedback sessions with practice principals and managers improve the quality of routinely collected data in EHRs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention was conducted in four general practices participating in the Fairfield neighborhood electronic Practice Based Research Network (ePBRN). Data were extracted from their clinical information systems and summarised as a SDQR to guide feedback to practice principals and managers at 0, 4, 8 and 12 months. Data quality (DQ) metrics included completeness, correctness, consistency and duplication of patient records. Information on data recording practices, data quality improvement, and utility of SDQRs was collected at the feedback sessions at the practices. The main outcome measure was change in the recording of clinical information and level of meeting Royal Australian College of General Practice (RACGP) targets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Birth date was 100% and gender 99% complete at baseline and maintained. DQ of all variables measured improved significantly (p<0.01) over 12 months, but was not sufficient to comply with RACGP standards. Improvement was greatest with allergies. There was no significant change in duplicate records.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SDQRs and feedback sessions support general practitioners and practice managers to focus on improving the recording of patient information. However, improved practice DQ, was not sufficient to meet RACGP targets. Randomised controlled studies are required to evaluate strategies to improve data quality and any associated improved safety and quality of care.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Health Care& Equity, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Health Care& Equity, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia; School of Public Health & Community Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia; General Practice Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: siaw@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Siaw-Teng
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Health Care& Equity, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Hairong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D000068598:Data Accuracy; D057225:Data Mining / Q000592:standards*; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000592:standards; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000592:standards*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Data quality; Electronic health records; Feedback; Quality improvement; Quality of care; Structured reports