Too much pressure: a behavioral approach to Data Integrity

The MHRA has published an interesting article on the behavioral factors that shape data integrity.

Data integrity refers to maintaining and assuring the accuracy and consistency of data over its entire life-cycle, and is a critical aspect to the design, implementation and usage of any system which stores, processes, or retrieves data.

Here is an extract:

“Implementing a quality culture and ensuring job satisfaction is easier said than done, but relatively simple actions taken by management can make big differences in everyday operations.  Informal senior management visits to the shop floor enable an understanding of operational issues which are invisible from the boardroom. The ability of an individual to justify their decision to manipulate data can be reduced by making sure that all employees have ‘visibility to the patient’ and understand the impact of their actions. Senior management has the power to fix problematic test methods from the beginning, upgrade outdated equipment and software, encourage open reporting of deviations, and reward good behavior rather than speed.”

The full article can be accessed here.

Tim Sandle’s article on data integrity for the microbiology laboratory can be read here.

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle