Databases and registers: useful tools for research, no studies

Abstract

There are many misunderstandings about databases. Database is a commonly misused term in reference to any set of data entered into a computer. However, true databases serve a main purpose, organising data. They do so by establishing several layers of relationships; databases are hierarchical. Databases commonly organise data over different levels and over time, where time can be measured as the time between visits, or between treatments, or adverse events, etc. In this sense, medical databases are closely related to longitudinal observational studies, as databases allow the introduction of data on the same patient over time. Basically, we could establish four types of databases in medicine, depending on their purpose: (1) administrative databases, (2) clinical databases, (3) registers, and (4) study-oriented databases. But a database is a useful tool for a large variety of studies, not a type of study itself. Different types of databases serve very different purposes, and a clear understanding of the different research designs mentioned in this paper would prevent many of the databases we launch from being just a lot of work and very little science.

Outcomes Reported in Prospective Long‐Term Observational Studies and Registries of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Worldwide: An Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Systematic Review

“…We included both registries and prospective LOS. Although the distinction is not always clear, registries are generally considered to be databases with ongoing longitudinal data collection of individual patients, with data not necessarily collected to answer specific research questions; they are often population‐based (11). In contrast, LOS usually include patients in specific settings and often aim to answer defined research questions.…”

MSGP: the first database of the protein components of the mammalian stress granules

“…A database consists in a storage of information that can be easily accessed and that is regularly managed and updated. Therefore, databases serve as an important tool for research and, accordingly, the number of databases has been increasing in the past years (21). Despite the growing interest in SG research and several reviews on the topic, there is still a lack of resources for their study.…”