Summary
Objectives: To provide a survey of the field of clinical research informatics (CRI), focusing
in particular on significant developments over the past 3 years and the insights they
provide about the progress and state of the field.
Methods: An iterative “scoping review” of the literature published in scientific journals
and conference proceedings that are relevant to CRI, from late 2009 to early 2013.
Results: 212 articles were identified, and 64 were selected to illustrate recent advances
in the field. Based on those, six categories of CRI activity were identified: Data
and Knowledge Management, Discovery and Standards; Clinical Data Re-Use for Research;
Researcher Support and Resources; Participant Recruitment; Patients/Consumers and
CRI; Policy, Regulatory and Fiscal Matters.
Conclusions: This survey demonstrates that the field of CRI has matured and is now well established.
The ongoing work is essential to overcome many of the challenges the clinical research
enterprise is facing and more work is needed. Even as work continues to establish
necessary infrastructure, methods, and best practices, CRI researchers should strive
for more rigorous study designs to evaluate the impacts of the work in the field.
There is little doubt that the field is poised for rapid growth, and that the CRI
literature will continue to reflect that growth in years to come.
Keywords
Clinical research - medical informatics - clinical trials - translational science
- review literature as topic