2012 VIReC Database and Me

2012 VIReC Database and Me

Cyber Seminar Series

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
a e ouse o

2012 VIReC Database and Methods Cyber Semin

VIReC Database and Methods Cyber Semin

Using VA Corporate Dat

Warehouse for 

Health Services Researc

June 4, 2012

Polly Hitchcock Noël PhD ël, PhD 

VERDICT & UT Health Science Center at San Anto

San Antonio, Texas

Laurel Copeland PhD Laurel Copeland, PhD

Center for Applied Health Care – CTVHCS & Scott & 

Temple, Texas

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Session Objectives

At the end of this session the participanAt the end of this session, the participanbe able to: 

Identify data from the Corporate Data Identify data from the Corporate Data 

Warehouse that can be used for Health SResearch 

Describe limitations of using the Corpo

Data Warehouse data 

Describe recent research that has used Describe recent research that has used 

Corporate Data Warehouse data 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW dEvaluations of CDW data Case study: CDW anthropometric dCase study: CDW blood pressure dRecommendations Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
t 

Audience Poll

How wou

ld

ld you rate your overall k d nowle ge of the C

Data Warehouse (CDW)? 

– 1 (No knowledge) – 2

– 3– 4– 5 (E t l l

 k 

5 (Expert-level knowl de ge) 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Audience Poll

Are you currently using and/or have you ever used d

the CDW for your research? 

A tl i d/ h d d 

– 1 I have never used CDW data, but hope to use it for 

in the future in the future 

– 2 I have designed a study that uses CDW data, but am 

funding decisions or IRB/data security approvals

– 3 I am currently using data from the CDW for my rese

I am currently using data from the CDW for my rese

– 4 I have a paper that uses CDW data submitted for re– 5 I have used CDW data in 1 or more articles that are 

or in press. or in press. 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
t t 

White Board

If you hh ave never used the CDW CDW , what dd o you want about the CDW or what data do you want to get from CDW? 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
t t t 

Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW vd t a a 

Evaluations of CDW data 

C d

 C

DW h i

 d

Case study: CDW anthropometric d

Case study: CDW blood pressure dRecommend i at ons 

Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Examples of research topics req

information on information on vitals dat

“vitals

” dat

Quality of Care 

– Does patient BMI class predict receipt of 

recommend d ti ? d

ed preventive screenings? 

Healthcare disparities 

– Is hypertension an independent predictor 

Is hypertension an independent predictor survival disparity among African Americawhite veterans with schizo

phrenia? 

Implementation research 

– Can quality of chronic pain management 

improved by implementation of the PCMH

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Corporate Data Warehous

Corporate Data Warehous

d fraws rom several VHA li i l & cli

nical & 

administrative systems like a nationwide view of all CPRS / VIlike a nationwide view of all CPRS / VIcreated to support administrative & reobjectives historical data from FY 1999, current dadded nightly 

W i thi th i t ti fWarning: this means there is no 

s

t

ati

c f

with Medical SAS datasets; studies may precisely replicable if data must be re-e

additional domains will be added in futrelational database, unlike some other repositories in VHA

RESEARCHERS’ GU RESEARCHERS IDE TO VA DATA ’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

repositories in VHA 
Data found in the CDW

See CDW metadata on the VA Intranet: 

http://vaww.cdw.med.va.gov/Pages/welco

Asof May 2012, these of May 2012, these data domains are availa

data domains are availa

Consults (10/1/1999 Consults (10/1/1999 and forward)forward) forward)forward) Health Factors (FY00+) Health Factors (FY00+) Immunizations (FY00+) Immunizations (FY00+) Mental Health [Mental health scores list: Mental Health [Mental health scores list: HSRDat

HSRDat

PCMM (Primary PCMM (Primary Care Management Care Management Module)Vital Signs (FY00+) Vital Signs (FY00+) 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Data found in the CDW

As of May 2012, these data domains are availa

DSS National Data Extracts National Data Extracts National Data Extracts National Data Extracts [no longer [no longer [no longer [no longer at AITC]at AITC] at AITC]at AITC] Inpatient (PTF, Inpatient (PTF, Movement) Movement) Lab, Chemistry Lab, Chemistry Outpatient Outpatient Encounters Encounters (FY00+) [All ICD9 & CPT [All ICD9 & CPT CPharmacy, Outpatient (FY00+) Pharmacy, Outpatient (FY00+) Patient demographics (All Patient demographics (All time) Staff demographics (All Staff demographics (All time) 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
t t

Vital Signs Available from C

( ith bb i i d i th CDW d b (with abbreviations used in the CDW databas

– Audiometry Audiometry (AU) – Respiration (R

Respiration (R

– Blood pressure (BP) – Temperature (– Circumference/g irth – Tonometry (TO

(CG) – Vision correcte

– Central venous pressure – Ventilator min

(CVP) vol (VMV) lume (VMV) 

– Fundal height (FH) – Ventilator tida

– Fetal heart tones (FHT) volume (VTV) 

– Hearing (HE) – Vision uncorre

– Height (HT) (VU) 

– Pain (PA) – W i ht (WT) Weight (WT) – Pulse oximetry (PO) 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Vital Sign History ( Vital Sign History (VistA/RD

Blue=All Time Red=2007-2009 

Perrin R, Bates J, Noel PH, Copeland LA, Lancaster B. National Clinical Data for VA Research: the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. Workshop. February, 2008 National HSR&D Meeting, Baltimore, MD. RESEARCHERS’ GU RESEARCHERS IDE TO VA DATA ’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW dEvaluations of CDW data Case study: CDW anthropometric dCase study: CDW blood pressure dRecommendations Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
t t t 

Tracing Path of CDW Data

Vitals data assessed & entered into Data stored in local VistA systemsTransmitted by HL 7 messages to 1 Regional Data Repositories (RDW’sCDW extracts, transforms, and l 

oa

from RDW’s into its SQL data fields 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Tracing Path of CDW Data

CDW is regularly updated (refreshDoes not hold stable reference fileErrors & out of range values are nocleaned 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Possible Sources of Erro

Measurement/ReportingData Entry Data Transfer or Extraction

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

18 
Possible Sources of Error

Measurement/Reporting Measurement/Reporting 

Equipment incorrectly calibrated Equipment incorrectly calibrated Reliance on patient self-report vs. clinimeasurement Val d d “ ” “d ” lues roun

d

ed 

“up

” or “down

”

Patients measured inconsistently with without shoes, clothing, etc.Last entered height carried forwardWeights and/or heights less likely to bmeasured for specific patient populatio

19

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Possible Sources of Error

Data Entry

Transposition of numbers Keying o

f num

ber adjacent to inten

d

e

d 

Addition/deletion of digits Erroneous transformation of values 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

20 
Possible Sources of Error

Data Transfer or Extractio

Specific to t

he VA, t

he 

“same

” 

anthropometric data entered into CPR

exist at several levels exist at several levels 

– local VistA systems – VISN data warehouses 

(directl

y from V

from a collector/feeder database on a Sserver connected to VistA) 

tA RDW) – CDW (from Vi Vi

stA 

via RDW) 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Possible Sources of Error

Data Transfer or ExtractioData Transfer or Extractio

Vari i at ons 

between sources can arise 

– Data can be lost in transmission – Different filters can result i

n i

i lt i nclusion 

o

different subsets of data 

– Refresh differences 

- VistA/CDW consta

VistA/CDW consta

changing; updates not done simultaneoall warehouses 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
t

Possible Sources of Error

Data Transfer or ExtractioData Transfer or Extractio

Numeri d b d fi d h ic data can be redefined as cha

data or “rounded” if stored with smal

number of decimal places number of decimal places 

– Out-of-range & outlier values not clean

CDW, data appear in both text & nume

– Text field “as is” from VistA extraction – Numerical field based on a very conser

transf ti l l ith formational algorithm 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Possible Sources of Error

Data Transfer or ExtractioData Transfer or Extractio

Pro

grammer error 

– Programmer may misinterpret variabl

cases needed or investigator may mis

needs 

– Research team may fail to request var

differentiate inpatient from outpatient 

measurements measurements 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

24 
Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW dEvaluations of CDW data Case study: CDW anthropometric dCase study: CDW blood pressure dRecommendations Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Evaluation of CDW Data:

Administrative Project

VHA Support VHA Support Service Center (VSSC

Service Center (VSSC

1) Compared CDW data fields to 1) Compared CDW data fields to one ano

one ano

to overall patient utilization to overall patient utilization over time to 

over time to 

populated as expected populated as expected 2) Examined data for biologically implaus

Examined data for biologically implaus

values 3) Compared 3) Compared data from 10 facilities (CDW data from 10 facilities (CDW VISN warehouse) VISN warehouse) 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Evaluation of CDW Data: 

are CDW data fields populate

as expected over time?

Comparison of VHA utilization and CDW data over 4 yea

2004

N

2005

N

2006

N

Unique Patients 4,976,773 5,094,494 5,188,836 

Blood Pressure 31,598,526 33,029,724 34,293,140 Circumference/Girth 11,004 16,933 82,482 

Central Venous Pressure 17,344 16,018 64,988 

Height 8,534,729 8,521,504 7,435,312 Pain 32,130,438 34,926,122 36,150,234 Pulse Oximetry 3,233,096 3,869,444 7,746,200 

Pulse 29,468,149 30,613,107 31,590,314 

Respiration 25,680,395 26,623,272 27,117,212 

Temperature 25,358,389 26,100,279 26,382,625 Weight 14,764,754 15,258,657 15,490,210 

Adapted from Perrin R, Bates J, Noel PH, Copeland LA, Lancaster B. National Clinical Data for VA Corporate Data Warehouse. Workshop. February, 2008 National HSR&D Meeting, Baltimore, MD. 

RESEARCHERS’ GU RESEARCHERS IDE TO VA DATA ’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Evaluation of CDW Data

Research Project

HSR&Dfun

d

e

d IIR ( b O

besity Care Prac

Veterans Healthcare Administration) 

1) Compared number & values of CDW vs 1) Compared number & values of CDW vs

warehouse height & weight data 

2

) Examined im

plausible variation in re

pe

measurements recorded in the CDW on same day, and on the same year, for th

individuals individuals 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Evaluation of CDW Data

CDW vs VISN data warehoCDW vs. VISN data wareho

Percent concordance in # of wt records for N* individuals both CDW & VISN data warehouses for 3 Fiscal Years (FY) 

VISN A VISN C VISN E 

N (%) N (%) N (%) 

FY2002 97,375 (98.6) 81,125 (62.3) 106,010 (99.3) 

FY2004 34,815 (98.3) 31,988 (98.5) 47,572 (99.2) 

FY2006 30,812 (97.5) 28,289 (97.5) 41,944 (98.4) 

*Note: FY2002 data based on patients with > 1 pc visits in FY2002, FY200

data based on pc patients identified as obese in FY2002 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Evaluation of CDW Data:

Implausible variation in Implausible variation in 

repeated measurements

Frequency distribution of differences in minimum & maxCDW hts recorded same day & same year (FY2006) 

Difference 

in inches 

occurrences of individuals with 

> 2 hts recorded same day 2 hts recorded same day 

N=33,424 

individuals 

recorded recorded 

N=53

N (%) 

difference = 0 difference = 0 29 319 (87 72) 29,319 (87.72) 469 

469

0 < difference < 1 1,771 ( 5.30) 421 < difference < 2 764 ( 2.28) 14

2 diff< erence < 10 1 207 ( 3 61) 1,207 ( 3.61) 1

1

Difference > 10 363 ( 1.09) 2

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Overall findings from administr

research project evaluatioresearch project evaluatio

W

eight is > H > 

H

eight

s > WC >

Some anomalies identified & corrected result of administrative 

p j ro

ject 

Concordance between the number & v

hts & wts stored in CDW & VISN waregenerally 97 5% generally 97.5%

-99 9%. 

Biologically implausible values noted, as biologically improbable variation 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Summary

In spite of occasional anomalies, CDW 

appears to reliably reflect hts & wts re

in VistA/VISN -level sources level sources Probable data errors appear to be presboth data sources CDW valuable & useful source of natiovital sign & anthropometric data 

Noel et al., JRRD 2010;47(8):739-250 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW dEvaluations of CDW data Case study: CDW anthropometric dCase study: CDW blood pressure dRecommendations Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Case Study: Anthropometric 

Obesit

y CC are PP ractices i ti i nth th

e VV

e

terans HH 

Administration (HSR&D IIR 05-121) 

Stud

y Ob

jectives 

describedescribe variations in VHA obesity care pra

variations in VHA obesity care pra

identify factors identify factors that predict that predict these variation

variation

examine the impact of care examine the impact of care practicespractices on Btrends & other clinical outcomes trends & other clinical outcomes 

Noel et al., Noel et al., JGIM 2010;25(6):510- JGIM 2010;25(6):510-516. 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

34 
t t

Challenges

Hei h ( i h ) d i h l 

ight (& weight) data inherently var

over time 

To detect changes in height & weight To detect changes in height & weight “real” vs. those due to error When errors detected or suspected 

– find valid/consistent way to eliminate or 

neutralize OR to understand how it may 

fi din ngs/interpretation 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

35 
–

Methods

Original plan: 

Identify obese cohort BMI > 30 in FY20

30 in FY20

(and follow through FY2006): 

– last recorded weight in FY02 

1st – l t d d h i ht i FY02 ( last recorded height in FY02 (or 1 il 

st avail

FY03-FY06) 

Included use of filtering scheme to remIncluded use of filtering scheme to rem“biologically implausible” weights (Da2005) 

– deleted all weights > 700 lbs & < 75 lbs – deleted all heights > 84 in & < 48 ins 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

36 
Limitations of Data: 

Impact on Cohort Identifica

Patients with: 

> 1 primary care visits in FY2002 in 6 VISNs 1 primary care visits in FY2002 in 6 VISNs 1 

1

> 1 wts & > 1 hts recorded in FY2002 

> 1 wts in FY2002 & > 1 hts in FY2003-FY2006 

sufficient ht & wt data to calculate BMI 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Limitations of Data: 

Impact on Cohort IdentificatImpact on Cohort Identificat

Due to extreme BMI values, modified plaDue to extreme BMI values, modified pla

obese cohort: Weights 

– d d db ivi

d

ed 

baseline FY into quarters 

– calculated median weight for each quart

Heights Heights 

– used modal ht FY2002-FY2006 – for 

patients with > 2 or more modal hts

averaged if difference btw modes was < 

Baseline BMI 

– Used median of median wts for FY2002 

Used median of median wts for FY2002 ht FY2002-2006 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

38 
t

Limitations of Data: 

Impact on Outcome AssessmImpact on Outcome Assessm

Original plan: Original plan: 

BMIs across 5-year study period - BMI based upon average quarterly wt 

each of 20 quarters 

Modified plan: 

BMIs across 5-year study period 

di 

20 quarters 

– BMI basedupon median quarterly wt for 

– same modal ht (from FY2002-FY2006) a

FY2006) a

across 5 years 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

39 
Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW dEvaluations of CDW data Case study: CDW anthropometric dCase study: CDW blood pressure dRecommendations Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Blood Pressure Data

Publications using CDW data becommore numerous; no specific exampBP Kerr et al J Qual Improv 2002; 28:5565 used BP values from VA Ann A565 used BP values from VA Ann Afrom VistA Valid values for QUERI

-DM: 

– 75 <= systolic <=250 – 25 <= diastolic <=180 25 <= diastolic <=180 – Usually use last value in period 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
-

- 

Late-life Patients with Schizop

Of 2 5M . records records for BP from FY02 for BP from FY02-FY05 representin

FY05, representin

unique patients [IIR-05-326]: 14,000 w/o valid numeric data for both diastsystolic pressures 0 7% had extreme non 0.7% had extreme non -missing values

– systolic 0-39 (n=9,081), systolic 0-75 (n=12,956) – diastolic 0-10 (n=13,396), diastolic 0-25 (n=14,070

Very low values were primarily 0 

– Systolic : n=8,927 of 12,956; diastolic: n=13183 of 

Few high values Few high values (n=119 sys 250 (n=119 sys 250 -299 n=13 299, n=13 dias 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Late-life Patients with Schizop

the cohort originally matched to CDW : N=3the cohort with valid BP & location in CDW: N=3LOCATION: 

70% of readings from inpatient encounte30% of readings from outpatient encounte

– 

(6% were missing location

) 

11,606 inpatients with valid location + valid BP 32,069 outpatients with valid location + valid BP 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Case Study: Blood Pressure 

Is hypertension an independent predictor of survival among bl

patients with schizophrenia? patients with schizophrenia? 

Depends on what you look at. 
Avera

ge measures 

generall

y protective 

(inverse associa

Maxima were positively associated with relative odds o

Minima were inversely associated with relative odds of 

Effect OR

 95% Wald CI 

Black 0.73 0.68 - 0.78 

Female 0.59 0.49 - 0.70 Age10 2.09 2.03 - 2.15 Max OP Sys x10 1.03 1.02 - 1.04 

... in another model--

Min IP Dias x10 0.79 0.76 - 0.82 

... in another model--

Av

g OP Dias x10 

0.82 -

0.86 0.90

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

NOTE: PROC LOGISTIC is modeling the probability that died=1 (n=34094) 
Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW dEvaluations of CDW data Case study: CDW anthropometric dCase study: CDW blood pressure dRecommendations Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Recommendations

Consider pros & cons o

f using reposito

data derived from routine clinical enco

St t i b h l f l f t lli Stra

tegies may b

e h

elp

f

ul for con

trolli

minimizing impact of error - impossibleliminate all 

“Missing” data may limit usefulness of for certain types of 

questions or 

patien

populations 

Incumbent upon researchers to be awlimitations of data & potential impact findings 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Recommendations

Caref ll i h d fil li d 

f

ully examine each 

data file suppli

ed 

any repository 

Do num

ber 

o

f recor

ds andvalues ma

k

clinical sense? 

Are there unusual variations over time Are there unusual variations over time facility? Many measures to choose from – cons

cons

clinical implications of each 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Recommendations

Approac

hes 

for 

dealing wit

h error or 

“

m

data may vary depending upon clinica

population or research question population or research question Select range filters that make sense foparticular 

patient p

o

pulation

Delete same day measurements or inpmeasurements? Is measure needed for specific time frand/or are repeated measurements neover time? 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Suggestions When Requesting CD

Programming Issues Programming Issues 

– SQL view is simplest option for transferrin

programmer on study team) 

– Be specific in request & re Be specific in request & re

-iterate specific

time passes or CDW programmer changes 

– Research programmer may require guidan

which cases to throw out or how to summwhich cases to throw out or how to summmultiple values in meaningful way 

Other Issues Other Issues 

– Because of the size of these files, assess s

space needs in advance of receipt of datamany copies in what formats will you neecreate? 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

49 
How to Acquire CDW Extra

Start with DARTT

he ND

S we

b

site on DART [Data Access Request Trac

ke

(http://vaww4.va.gov/NDS/DataAccess/Researchers/

describes these 2 methods for accessing CDW data:

Note: Data access forms include Form 9957, Privacy and DSDisclosure if required, CDW Rules of Behavior N t o

te: OOthther dd ocumen

ts requiredmay inclu

d

e IRB Approva

M

i il IRB A 

Approval Memo, Research Request Memo, IC/HIPAA Waiver AData used in VINCI – d i Data Access Agreement, Rules o f h BeData delivered as an extract for use on local secure VA servers – Data Access forms, CDW Rules of Behavior 

– NDS expects the PI to control the data locally and track w

the data. If research staff will assist in obtaining the extradownloading or file transfer from the CDW platform, these 

need to complete the access forms and sign CDW Rules of 

RESEARCHERS’ GU RESEARCHERS IDE TO VA DATA ’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 

need to complete the access forms and sign CDW Rules of 
t

References for Further In

Noël PH, Copeland LA, Perrin RA, Lancaster AE, Pugh MJ, W

Bollinger MJ, Hazuda HP. VHA Corporate data warehouse hweight data: Opportunities and challenges for health servi

research. JRRD. 2010:47(8):739-750. N ël PH C l d LA P i RA L AE P h MJ W research. JRRD. 2010:47(8):739 Noël PH, Copeland LA, Pugh MJ, Kahwati L, Tsevat J, NelsoCP, Bollinger M, Hazuda HP. Obesity Diagnosis and Care Pthe Veterans Health Administration. JGIM 2010;25(6):510 2010;25(6):510 Noël PH, Wang CP, Bollinger MJ, Pugh MJ, Copeland LA, Ts

Nelson KM, Dundon MM, Hazuda H. Intensity and duration 

related counseling: Association with 5-year BMI trends am

year BMI trends am

primary care patients. Obesity 2012;20(4):773-782. Copeland LA, Pugh MJ, Hicks PB, Noël PH. Use of obesity-rby psychiatric patients. Psychiatric Services 2012;63(3):2

2012;63(3):2

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW dEvaluations of CDW data Case study: CDW anthropometric dCase study: CDW blood pressure dRecommendations Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
t

Research Data Request Proc

Obtain DD ataf from CDW

Visit CDW site to confirm data availRequest access through VHA NationData Systems / DART Data Systems / DART 

– http://vaww4.va.gov/NDS/DataAccess/

hers/RESCDW.asp 

– Contact the help personnel at that U

within DART 

– Process involves a review by the VH

Privacy Office 

– Process requires patience 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
 t t t t 

Current Research Data Requ

Process

Once approved by VHA

– Arrange data set creation with CDW – Establish File format (e.g., SQL, .txt

Establish File format (e.g., SQL, .txt

– Honor your agreements regarding da

safekeeping

– D d l h d ith 

Do not delete research data without obtaining your IRB, PO, ISO, and ReOffice approval (data destruction em

Is direct access to CDW possible? NSecure transfer of data 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
VIReC Help

VIReC Webpage http://vaww.virec.research.va.gov/ http://www.virec.research.va.gov 

– Information on VA data sources and how to a

data including CDW data, including CDW 

– Documentation on some VA datasets – HSRData Listserv sign-up info 

CDW Information Webpages http://vaww.cdw.med.va.gov/Pages/welcome.ashttp://vaww.virec.research.va.gov/DataSourcesW/CDWdocumentation htm W/CDWdocumentation.htm http://vaww.dwh.cdw.portal.va.gov/Pages/welco

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
VIReC Help (cont’d)

HSRData Listserv (j oin this!

)

– Join at the VIReC Web site – http://vaww.virec.research.va.gov/Supp

a-L_Listserv.htm 

– Discussion among >500 data stewards, 

and users including Sophie Lo Elliott Low

Sophie Lo, Elliott Low

Yao 

– Past messages in Archive (on intranet) Past messages in Archive (on intranet) 

VIReC Help Desk 

– VIReC staff will answer 

your 

question an

you to available resources on topics 

– (708) 202-2413 [8:00am to 4:30pm Ce– VIReC@va.gov 

RESEARCHERS’ GU RESEARCHERS IDE TO VA DATA ’ GUIDE TO VA DATA
Questions?

P ll N l@ Polly.Noel@va.gov

Laurel.Copeland@va.gov

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA 
Session Outline

Overview of CDW Possible sources of error in CDW dEvaluations of CDW data Case study: CDW anthropometric dCase study: CDW blood pressure dRecommendations Where to Go for More Help 

RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA