Are digital technologies fit for clinical purposes? A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of information quality frameworks for digital healthcare. (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) generate large volume of information used in healthcare for administrative, educational, research and clinical purposes. Clinical use of digital information for diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic purposes has multiple patient safety problems; some of which result from poor information quality. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize an Information Quality (IQ) framework which could be used to evaluate the extent to which digital health information is fit for clinical purposes. METHODS The review was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42018097142). We searched EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Maternity and Infant Care, PsycINFO, Global Health, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Scopus and HMIC from inception until October 2019. Multi-dimensional IQ frameworks for assessing DHTs used in clinical context by healthcare professionals were included. Thematic synthesis approach was employed to synthesize the Clinical Information Quality (CLIQ) Framework for Digital Health. RESULTS We identified ten existing IQ frameworks from which we developed the CLIQ Framework for Digital Health with thirteen unique dimensions - accessibility, completeness, portability, security, timeliness, accuracy, interpretability, plausibility, provenance, relevance, conformance, consistency and maintainability; categorised into three meaningful categories - availability, informativeness and usability. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review highlights the importance of IQ of DHTs and its relevance to patient safety. The CLIQ Framework for Digital Health will be useful in evaluating and conceptualizing IQ issues associated with digital health, thus forestalling potential patient safety problems. CLINICALTRIAL INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024722.