An overview of administrative and national survey databases for use in otolaryngology research

An emerging focus on measurement and reporting of health care quality indicators calls for a sound evidence base that otolaryngologists can use to support clinical care decisions. In addition to traditional clinical trials, practitioners are heeding results of high-quality comparative-effectiveness and health services research analyses to better understand the complexity of disease epidemiology, care variation, health care costs, and surgical utilization for common conditions. Many national publicly available data sources exist for use in clinical research that may be of benefit for the academic and clinical otolaryngologist. The strength and value of these sources vary depending on the intended use or research question. The purpose of this commentary is to introduce and provide an overview of some major national and administrative databases, highlight potential strengths and limitations of these data, and suggest applications for use in advancing the care of our patients in otolaryngology.