Clinical Research Glossary

Real World Data (RWD) Real World Data (RWD)

CDISC

Information from many different sources used for health research purposes.

Example of Real World Data (RWD) in a sentence

Real World Data comes from sources like medical records, insurance claims, pharmacies, and wearables such as smart phones or heart monitors set up for that purpose.

More Info

Real World Data are routinely collected and not specifically for research.

Some studies use Real World Data such as health information in electronic medical records or insurance claims to learn more about side effects of medicines.

Other info to think about when joining a study

Some research studies use Real World Data. You may see the term “Real World Data” mentioned in a consent form or described in study results.

If a study uses Real World Data, you can also ask how these data are collected and protected.

Version 2.0 September 2024

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