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Define or align common data elements (CDEs).
Common Data Elements (CDEs) are standardised, precisely defined question paired with specific allowable responses. These CDEs can be used systematically across different sites, studies, or clinical trials to ensure consistent data collection. CDEs give us a way to standardize and share precise and unambiguous definitions of the meaning of data independent of any data model or data set. [NIH]
For a new data collection: check if there is a set of CDEs in your domain that you can reuse (for example Set of common data elements for Rare Diseases Registration), otherwise newly define CDEs whose semantics are clear and unambiguous; for an existing data set, existing data elements can be aligned to CDEs.
For more information, please refer to the Metroline Step: Apply common data elements.
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