Big Data in Science and Healthcare: A Review of Recent Literature and Perspectives

M. M. Hansen; T. Miron-Shatz; A. Y. S. Lau; C. Paton

doi:10.15265/IY-2014-0004

Yearbook of Medical Informatics, Table of Contents

Yearb Med Inform 2014; 23(01): 21-26
DOI: 10.15265/IY-2014-0004

Original Article

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart

Big Data in Science and Healthcare: A Review of Recent Literature and Perspectives

Contribution of the IMIA Social Media Working Group

Authors

M. M. Hansen

¹School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
T. Miron-Shatz

²Center for Medical Decision Making, Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel
A. Y. S. Lau

³Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, University of New South Wales, Australia
C. Paton

⁴George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Abstract

Summary

Objectives: As technology continues to evolve and rise in various industries, such as healthcare, science, education, and gaming, a sophisticated concept known as Big Data is surfacing. The concept of analytics aims to understand data. We set out to portray and discuss perspectives of the evolving use of Big Data in science and healthcare and, to examine some of the opportunities and challenges.

Methods: A literature review was conducted to highlight the implications associated with the use of Big Data in scientific research and healthcare innovations, both on a large and small scale.

Results: Scientists and health-care providers may learn from one another when it comes to understanding the value of Big Data and analytics. Small data, derived by patients and consumers, also requires analytics to become actionable. Connectivism provides a framework for the use of Big Data and analytics in the areas of science and healthcare. This theory assists individuals to recognize and synthesize how human connections are driving the increase in data. Despite the volume and velocity of Big Data, it is truly about technology connecting humans and assisting them to construct knowledge in new ways.

Concluding Thoughts: The concept of Big Data and associated analytics are to be taken seriously when approaching the use of vast volumes of both structured and unstructured data in science and health-care. Future exploration of issues surrounding data privacy, confidentiality, and education are needed. A greater focus on data from social media, the quantified self-movement, and the application of analytics to “small data” would also be useful.

Keywords

Science - healthcare - higher education - big data - analytics - quantified self Introduction - connectivism

Full Text

References

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