Transfer learning for non-image data in clinical research: A scoping review.

<h4>Background</h4>Transfer learning is a form of machine learning where a pre-trained model trained on a specific task is reused as a starting point and tailored to another task in a different dataset. While transfer learning has garnered considerable attention in medical image analysis...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andreas Ebbehoj, Mette Østergaard Thunbo, Ole Emil Andersen, Michala Vilstrup Glindtvad, Adam Hulman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-02-01
Series:PLOS Digital Health
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0000014&type=printable
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832539979555799040
author Andreas Ebbehoj
Mette Østergaard Thunbo
Ole Emil Andersen
Michala Vilstrup Glindtvad
Adam Hulman
author_facet Andreas Ebbehoj
Mette Østergaard Thunbo
Ole Emil Andersen
Michala Vilstrup Glindtvad
Adam Hulman
author_sort Andreas Ebbehoj
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Transfer learning is a form of machine learning where a pre-trained model trained on a specific task is reused as a starting point and tailored to another task in a different dataset. While transfer learning has garnered considerable attention in medical image analysis, its use for clinical non-image data is not well studied. Therefore, the objective of this scoping review was to explore the use of transfer learning for non-image data in the clinical literature.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>We systematically searched medical databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL) for peer-reviewed clinical studies that used transfer learning on human non-image data. We included 83 studies in the review. More than half of the studies (63%) were published within 12 months of the search. Transfer learning was most often applied to time series data (61%), followed by tabular data (18%), audio (12%) and text (8%). Thirty-three (40%) studies applied an image-based model to non-image data after transforming data into images (e.g. spectrograms). Twenty-nine (35%) studies did not have any authors with a health-related affiliation. Many studies used publicly available datasets (66%) and models (49%), but fewer shared their code (27%).<h4>Conclusions</h4>In this scoping review, we have described current trends in the use of transfer learning for non-image data in the clinical literature. We found that the use of transfer learning has grown rapidly within the last few years. We have identified studies and demonstrated the potential of transfer learning in clinical research in a wide range of medical specialties. More interdisciplinary collaborations and the wider adaption of reproducible research principles are needed to increase the impact of transfer learning in clinical research.
format Article
id doaj-art-8d3e4540c4e8484e820a71f82bcf002a
institution Kabale University
issn 2767-3170
language English
publishDate 2022-02-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLOS Digital Health
spelling doaj-art-8d3e4540c4e8484e820a71f82bcf002a2025-02-05T05:33:39ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Digital Health2767-31702022-02-0112e000001410.1371/journal.pdig.0000014Transfer learning for non-image data in clinical research: A scoping review.Andreas EbbehojMette Østergaard ThunboOle Emil AndersenMichala Vilstrup GlindtvadAdam Hulman<h4>Background</h4>Transfer learning is a form of machine learning where a pre-trained model trained on a specific task is reused as a starting point and tailored to another task in a different dataset. While transfer learning has garnered considerable attention in medical image analysis, its use for clinical non-image data is not well studied. Therefore, the objective of this scoping review was to explore the use of transfer learning for non-image data in the clinical literature.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>We systematically searched medical databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL) for peer-reviewed clinical studies that used transfer learning on human non-image data. We included 83 studies in the review. More than half of the studies (63%) were published within 12 months of the search. Transfer learning was most often applied to time series data (61%), followed by tabular data (18%), audio (12%) and text (8%). Thirty-three (40%) studies applied an image-based model to non-image data after transforming data into images (e.g. spectrograms). Twenty-nine (35%) studies did not have any authors with a health-related affiliation. Many studies used publicly available datasets (66%) and models (49%), but fewer shared their code (27%).<h4>Conclusions</h4>In this scoping review, we have described current trends in the use of transfer learning for non-image data in the clinical literature. We found that the use of transfer learning has grown rapidly within the last few years. We have identified studies and demonstrated the potential of transfer learning in clinical research in a wide range of medical specialties. More interdisciplinary collaborations and the wider adaption of reproducible research principles are needed to increase the impact of transfer learning in clinical research.https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0000014&type=printable
spellingShingle Andreas Ebbehoj
Mette Østergaard Thunbo
Ole Emil Andersen
Michala Vilstrup Glindtvad
Adam Hulman
Transfer learning for non-image data in clinical research: A scoping review.
PLOS Digital Health
title Transfer learning for non-image data in clinical research: A scoping review.
title_full Transfer learning for non-image data in clinical research: A scoping review.
title_fullStr Transfer learning for non-image data in clinical research: A scoping review.
title_full_unstemmed Transfer learning for non-image data in clinical research: A scoping review.
title_short Transfer learning for non-image data in clinical research: A scoping review.
title_sort transfer learning for non image data in clinical research a scoping review
url https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0000014&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT andreasebbehoj transferlearningfornonimagedatainclinicalresearchascopingreview
AT metteøstergaardthunbo transferlearningfornonimagedatainclinicalresearchascopingreview
AT oleemilandersen transferlearningfornonimagedatainclinicalresearchascopingreview
AT michalavilstrupglindtvad transferlearningfornonimagedatainclinicalresearchascopingreview
AT adamhulman transferlearningfornonimagedatainclinicalresearchascopingreview