To begin, substitute for the_headers
the_headers <- colnames(YOUR_DATA_FRAME)
library(stringr)
# string beginning with "PD" followed by a period "."
# . is a metacharacter, which has to be escaped by \\
target <- "^PD\\."
the_headers <- c("PD.Patient.Code", "PD.Patient.Sex", "PG.Ethnicity", "PD.Data.Collectn.PHI", "PD.Patient.State", "PD.Patient.Birthdate", "PD.Pat.Height.Inches", "PD.Pat.Weight.Lbs", "PD.HIPAA.Sign.Date", "PT.Medical.Rcd.Nbr", "PD.Pat.Phone", "PD.Pat.Alt.Phone", "PD.Soc.Sec.", "PD.Patient.E.Mail", "PD.Patient.Code.1", "PD.Patient.Last.Name", "PD.Patie,.First.Nme", "PD.Patient.Street", "PD.Patient.Street.2", "PD.Patient.City", "PD.Patient.ZIP.Code", "PD.Patient.Birthdate.1")
trimmed <- str_remove_all(the_headers,target)
trimmed
#> [1] "Patient.Code" "Patient.Sex" "PG.Ethnicity"
#> [4] "Data.Collectn.PHI" "Patient.State" "Patient.Birthdate"
#> [7] "Pat.Height.Inches" "Pat.Weight.Lbs" "HIPAA.Sign.Date"
#> [10] "PT.Medical.Rcd.Nbr" "Pat.Phone" "Pat.Alt.Phone"
#> [13] "Soc.Sec." "Patient.E.Mail" "Patient.Code.1"
#> [16] "Patient.Last.Name" "Patie,.First.Nme" "Patient.Street"
#> [19] "Patient.Street.2" "Patient.City" "Patient.ZIP.Code"
#> [22] "Patient.Birthdate.1"
then
colnames(YOUR_DATA_FRAME) <- the_headers