Lecture 1 - Medical Data (MC)

Medical Data Fundamentals

• Medical data is central to the healthcare process, involving gathering, analyzing, or using data in various medical-care activities.
• Medical data helps identify patient problems, categorize subgroups within a population, and assist in treatment decisions.

Characteristics of Data

• A datum is a single observation or measurement, such as a temperature reading or blood pressure measurement.
• Data can include modifiers, such as the location or position of the patient during measurement, which can impact results.

Data vs Information vs Knowledge

• Data: raw, single observations or measurements (e.g., a blood pressure reading of 120/80).
• Information: derived from data through interpretation (e.g., categorizing a blood pressure reading as high or normal).
• Knowledge: obtained by inductive reasoning with previously interpreted data (e.g., identifying a correlation between high blood pressure and heart attack risk).

Types of Medical Data

• Narrative or textual data
• Numerical measurements
• Recorded signals
• Images

Uses of Medical Data

• Individual (patient-specific): supporting care, monitoring health, and anticipating future problems.
• Society (population-based): aggregating and analyzing data to enable doctors to learn from experience, identify trends, and inform clinical research.

Challenges in Using Medical Data

• Sheer diversity and complexity of data from disparate sources
• Lack of standardization among proprietary and legacy systems
• Missing datapoints
• Concerns about privacy and exploitation
• Complex regulatory landscape