Chart Review Studies During and After a Pandemic
The current global pandemic combined with electronic medical records and data visualization technologies have resulted in unprecedented advances in real-time tracking of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, across countries, states and local communities. As the situation evolves, there will be ample opportunity and increased need for both retrospective and prospective COVID-19 research studies that involve the review of medical records.
The rapidly evolving situation in this global pandemic requires investigators to design and write protocols quickly for IRB review. A guided protocol-writing experience, as with ProtocolBuilder, streamlines the process, ensures regulatory and institutional compliance, and facilitates collaboration among researchers.
In medical record review studies, also called a “chart reviews,” a researcher may collect and analyze information that was originally collected for a different purpose, also referred to as a secondary use of data. It often involves the collection of data from medical records in order to evaluate possible relationships between different variables and specific outcomes measures. An investigator may assess biomedical, treatment or demographic variables by reviewing various elements of a medical record. These may include lab results, physician or summary notes, admission and discharge summaries, etc.
Chart review studies can also be designed to collect prospective data, meaning the patient data does not exist at the time the protocol is submitted to the IRB for initial review. While many chart review protocols may qualify for a determination of exempt status from the IRB or expedited IRB review due to the minimal risk to research subjects, these studies are still subject to IRB review and HIPAA privacy protections. A guided and structured protocol-writing experience can accelerate the process while enhancing compliance, supporting collaboration, and saving time.
A chart review study protocol will generally include the following key elements:
- A synopsis — includes the objectives and high-level summary of the study elements, including a study flow chart
- Introduction and background — includes the protocol statement of compliance
- Rationale — includes the problem statement, risks and benefits
- Literature review — a synthesis of the current literature to establish the relevance of the problem and description of the literature that supports the need for the study
- Research design and methods — includes the study population and duration of the study. For chart reviews, a date range that indicates the timeframe for which records will be queried (e.g., a review of all ER visits between 1/1/2020 and 7/1/2020)
- Data collection and handling — includes a plan for maintaining subject confidentiality and privacy, how data will be collected and stored
- Statistical analysis plan — how the data will be analyzed to achieve the objectives
Chart review protocols are emerging as an important methodology in understanding COVID-19. Given the rapidly-developing nature of the global pandemic, the need for prompt writing and review of these protocols is critical to the ongoing effort to understand the situation.
ProtocolBuilder, a cloud-based research protocol-writing tool, can help improve the quality and consistency of clinical research protocols to make internal and IRB review processes more efficient.
Further Resources
ProtocolBuilder
https://protocolbuilderpro.com/
Research Study Design
https://about.citiprogram.org/en/series/research-study-design/
Research and HIPAA Privacy Protections (part of Comprehensive CIP Course for Advanced Learners)
https://about.citiprogram.org/en/course/comprehensive-cip-course-for-advanced-learner
