Big Data: The Paradigm Shift Needed to Revolutionize Musculoskeletal Clinical Research

Since we cannot ignore Big Data, we must do what we can to ensure that its potential is harnessed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. Given the potential of using electronic clinical data, it is also necessary to strike a note of caution. We have to keep uppermost in mind that new technologies like Big Data can unsettle a lot of people. A central tenet of clinical research is that patient data belong to the patient. Robust and transparent processes need to be developed to ensure that patients do not feel compromised in any way by their data being used in such new and widespread methods. The need to rethink and implement safeguards is already being addressed. For example, the university-associated Regenstrief Institute does not pass along even deidentified data to their Big Data industry partner.⁹

However, we need to also be cognizant of the fact that society is changing in the way people use and regard their own information. Patient-reported data is already being shared among patients online, for both common and rare diseases. The data are also richer and can go beyond the usual outcomes that are recorded to give a bigger picture, eg, why patients are not adhering to treatment regimens.¹⁰

In summary, it is our earnest belief that if the health care industry can embrace the concept of Big Data and utilize it properly, our patients and medical practices will be all the better for it.

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