1. NURS 736: Technology Solutions for Knowledge Generation in Healthcare
Module 2: Database and Database Models

2. Definitions
A Database is a shared collection of logically related data, designed to meet the information needs of multiple users in an organization
DataBase Management System (DBMS): software that helps organize data in a way that allows fast and easy access to the data

3. Databases Advantages Disadvantages Reduced redundancy
one place; single entry
Integrated data
retrieved from anywhere in database
available for queries/reports
Integrity
accurate and up to date
Disadvantages
Can be expensive to set up
Direct access to data may be limited
Data excess

4. Database Design From smallest to largest unit: Character Field Record
File
Database

5. Database Models Types of DB Models: Flat Hierarchical Network
Object oriented
Relational

6. Database Models: Flat Binary file; contains one record per line
Fields separated by delimiters, e.g. commas, or may have a fixed length
No relationship between the records
Example: Creating a name and address list on paper, in a word processing program or a spreadsheet. This would be called a “flat file”

7. Database Models: Hierarchical
Example: magnetic tape,
Step-like with no shortcuts
Rigid, inefficient
Forced series of steps to reach data you need

8. Database Models: Network
Similar to hierarchical
Redundant copies of same dataset on several networked computers
Allows shortcuts

9. Database Models: Object Oriented
inherits
SUV
Sports Car
Automobile
aggregation
Super Class
Passenger transport
Passengers: 2
Passengers: 7 plus payload
Payload
Heavy duty: 800 lb capacity
Object oriented model – most advanced for storing data
Data attributes and functions contained within database “objects” which are reusable

10. Database Models: Relational
Data is organized into two
dimensional table
Can retrieve data across all
files directly without going through pathways
Can extract key information

11. Database Models: Relational
Patient
Order
Type
Results
Date
Order #
RBC
Result #
Last
Name
SSN
Zip Code
Requests
WBC
Figure 1: Relational Database
Relational DB. Data using tables and relationships. Nearly all current databases have adopted this model as their standard.
This type of table depends on TABLES and RELATIONSHIPS between those tables.

12. Relational Terms Column=Category
The fields in the table (columns) give information about one type of category

13. Relational Terms Row=result
The records in the table (rows) give the information about one specific result

14. Tables & Relationships
Patient has an order
Order has a result
“relationship”
This is an example of tables and relationships for a relational database. Emphasize the tables and the relationships between them. Note that there is a field in each table that links one to another (SSN links to order table & order # links to results table)