New technologies fuel patient participation and data collection in research

The changing dynamic of health studies driven by “big data” research projects will empower patients to become active participants who provide real-time information such as symptoms, side effects and clinical outcomes, according to researchers. The analysis lays out a new paradigm for health research, particularly comparative effectiveness studies that are designed to assess which therapies work best in routine clinical practice.

"When linked to the rest of the available electronic data, patient-generated health data completes the big data picture of real people’s needs, life beyond the health care system, and how changes in health and health care lead to meaningful changes in people’s lives."

- sciencedaily.com (New technologies fuel patient participation and data collection in research)

My thoughts:
Interesting idea. But still some obvious flaws. Must be some self-reporting bias among other biases... not unlike that of patients rating doctors, clinics, and hospitals... -_-

Low vitamin D and pregnancy risks

And this just after seeing my preceptor order vitamin D levels on her patients that confuse her because she’s so sure, she rants, that low vitamin D is the culprit whenever something is going on that you otherwise can’t explain…and now this. :)

In the news: Low vitamin D and pregnancy risks (NYTimes)