Improving accuracy of HIV medical records
Statistical methods and designs for correlated outcome and covariate errors in studies of HIV/AIDS
This project combines routine electronic health records with carefully checked medical record samples to make research about people living with HIV more accurate.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11469943 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are developing methods that blend large amounts of routine medical record data with smaller, gold‑standard checks on selected records to correct mistakes and missing information. They design smart, multi‑stage ways to pick which records to validate so the process is efficient and informative. The team builds statistical tools and software that merge the routine and validated data to reduce bias and produce tighter estimates about HIV outcomes and co‑conditions. These methods have been applied to large HIV cohorts such as the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA).
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV whose care is documented in participating hospital systems or cohort databases (for example Vanderbilt or IeDEA sites) could have their records selected for validation and thus contribute to the work.
Not a fit: Patients without electronic records in the participating systems or whose care is not captured in the studied databases are unlikely to be directly involved or to see immediate benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make HIV research findings more reliable and help clinicians and policymakers make better decisions for people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Related statistical methods and software have been developed previously and applied successfully to several HIV cohort analyses, though adaptation to new data sources and error types is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shepherd, Bryan Earl — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Shepherd, Bryan Earl
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.