Using Structured Codes and Free-Text Notes to Measure Information Complementarity in Electronic Health Records: Feasibility and Validation Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Electronic health records (EHRs) consist of both structured data (eg, diagnostic codes) and unstructured data (eg, clinical notes). It is commonly believed that unstructured clinical narratives provide more comprehensive information. However, this assumption lacks large-scale validation and direct validation methods.

Objective

This study aims to quantitatively compare the information in structured and unstructured EHR data and directly validate whether unstructured data offers more extensive information across a patient population.

Methods

We analyzed both structured and unstructured data from patient records and visits in a large Dutch primary care EHR database between January 2021 and January 2024. Clinical concepts were identified from free-text notes us

SUBMITTER: Seinen TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11887999 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature