Data Linkage: A powerful research tool with potential problems

BMC Health Services Research

Volumn 10, Issue , 2010, Pages

  Bohensky, Megan A ^a   Jolley, Damien ^a   Sundararajan, Vijaya ^b   Evans, Sue ^a   Pilcher, David V ^c   Scott, Ian ^d   Brand, Caroline A ^a  

^a MONASH UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

^b Department of Health Victoria ^*  (United States)

^c Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society   (United States)

^d Princess Alexandra Hospital   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATABASE; EMPIRICAL RESEARCH; HEALTH CARE QUALITY; HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH; HEALTH STATUS; HOSPITAL; HUMAN; INFORMATION PROCESSING; INFORMATION RETRIEVAL; MEDICAL AUDIT; METHODOLOGY; SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY; STANDARD; STATISTICS; TREATMENT OUTCOME; UTILIZATION REVIEW;

CLINICAL AUDIT; DATA COLLECTION; DATABASES, BIBLIOGRAPHIC; EMPIRICAL RESEARCH; HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH; HEALTH STATUS; HOSPITALS; HUMANS; INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL; OUTCOME AND PROCESS ASSESSMENT (HEALTH CARE); QUALITY ASSURANCE, HEALTH CARE; RESEARCH DESIGN; SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY;

EID: 78650349599     PISSN: None     EISSN: 14726963     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-10-346     Document Type: Article

References (60)

1. Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Institute of Medicine Committee on Quality of Health in America, Washington DC: National Academies Press 2001 1 337
2. Health Care In Canada 2004. Canadian Institute for Health Information, Ottawa, CA: CIHI 2004
3. The Report of the Public Inquiry into children's heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary1984-1995. The Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry, London, U.K 2001
4. A healthier future for all Australians final report June 2009. National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (Australia). Australia. Dept. of Health and Ageing, Canberra, A.C.T.: Dept. of Health and Ageing 2009
5. A case study in record linkage. M Winglee R Valliant F Scheuren, Survey Methodology 2005 31 1 3 11
6. Cross sectional survey of multicentre clinical databases in the United Kingdom. N Black M Barker M Payne, Br Med J 2004 328 7454 1478 10.1136/bmj.328.7454.1478
7. A survey of Australian clinical registries: can quality of care be measured? SM Evans M Bohensky PA Cameron JJ McNeil, Intern Med J 2009
8. Population-based linkage of health records in Western Australia: development of a health services research linked database. CDA Holman AJ Bass IL Rouse MST Hobbs, Aust N Z J Public Health 1999 23 5 453 459 10.1111/j.1467-842X.1999.tb01297.x 10575763
9. Guide to health record linkage services version 1.3. Centre for Health Record Linkage, undated
10. Creating a population-based linked health database: a new resource for health services research. R Chamberlayne B Green ML Barer C Hertzman WJ Lawrence SB Sheps, Can J Public Health 1998 89 4 270 273 9735524
11. A population-based health information system. NP Roos CD Black N Frohlich C Decoster MM Cohen DJ Tataryn CA Mustard F Toll KC Carriere CA Burchill al et, Med Care 1995 33 12 Suppl S13 20 10.1097/00005650-199512001-00005 7500666
12. The Oxford Record Linkage Study: A Review of the Method with Some Preliminary Results. ED Acheson, Proc R Soc Med 1964 57 269 274 14152943
13. The Scottish Record Linkage System. S Kendrick J Clarke, Health Bull (Edinb) 1993 51 2 72 79 8514493
14. Accuracy of probabilistic record linkage applied to health databases: systematic review. DP Silveira E Artmann, Rev Saude Publica 2009 43 5 875 882 10.1590/S0034-89102009005000060 19784456
15. Directory of clinical databases: improving and promoting their use. N Black M Payne, Qual Saf Health Care 2003 12 5 348 352 10.1136/qhc.12.5.348 14532366
16. Research use of linked health data - a best practice protocol. CW Kelman AJ Bass CD Holman, Aust N Z J Public Health 2002 26 3 251 255 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2002.tb00682.x 12141621
17. Statistical Data Linkage in Community Services Data Collection. National Community Services Information Management Group, Canberra Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2004
18. A Framework for Evaluation of Secondary Data Sources for Epidemiological Research. HT Sorensen S Sabroe J Olsen, Int J Epidemiol 1996 25 2 435 442 10.1093/ije/25.2.435 9119571
19. What proportion of patients refuse consent to data collection from their records for research purposes? R Baker C Shiels K Stevenson R Fraser M Stone, Br J Gen Pract 2000 50 457 655 656 11042920
20. Characteristics of unmatched maternal and baby records in linked birth records and hospital discharge data. JB Ford CL Roberts LK Taylor, Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2006 20 4 329 337 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2006.00715.x 16879505
21. Linking questionnaires to primary care records: factors affecting consent in older people. T Harris DG Cook C Victor C Beighton S Dewilde I Carey, J Epidemiol Community Health 2005 59 4 336 338 10.1136/jech.2004.025296 15767389
22. Attendance rates and outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation in Victoria, 1998. V Sundararajan SJ Bunker S Begg R Marshall H Burney, Med J Aust 2004 180 6 268 271 15012563
23. The association between maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and preterm birth, small for gestational age infants, preeclampsia, and placental complications. DK Waller LS Lustig GC Cunningham LB Feuchtbaum EB Hook, Obstet Gynecol 1996 88 5 816 822 10.1016/0029-7844(96)00310-9 8885920
24. Patterns of consent in epidemiologic research: evidence from over 25,000 responders. KM Dunn K Jordan RJ Lacey M Shapley C Jinks, Am J Epidemiol 2004 159 11 1087 1094 10.1093/aje/kwh141 15155293
25. Record linkage research and informed consent: who consents? N Huang S-F Shih H-Y Chang Y-J Chou, BMC Health Serv Res 2007 7 18 10.1186/1472-6963-7-18 17291357
26. Mother's consent to linkage of survey data with her child's birth records in a multi-ethnic national cohort study. AR Tate L Calderwood C Dezateux H Joshi, Int J Epidemiol 2006 35 2 294 298 10.1093/ije/dyi287 16373376
27. Constructing Reproductive Histories by Linking Vital Records. MM Adams HG Wilson DL Casto CJ Berg JM McDermott JA Gaudino BJ McCarthy, Am J Epidemiol 1997 145 4 339 348 9054238
28. Probabilistic record linkage and a method to calculate the positive predictive value. T Blakely C Salmond, Int J Epidemiol 2002 31 6 1246 1252 10.1093/ije/31.6.1246 12540730
29. Mortality by education in German speaking Switzerland, 1990-1997: Results from the Swiss National Cohort. M Bopp CE Minder, Int J Epidemiol 2003 32 3 346 354 10.1093/ije/dyg072 12777418
30. Method of linking Medicaid records to birth certificates may affect infant outcome statistics. PA Buescher, Am J Public Health 1999 89 4 564 566 10.2105/AJPH.89.4.564 10191803
31. Investigation of bias after data linkage of hospital admissions data to police road traffic crash reports. PC Cryer S Westrup AC Cook V Ashwell P Bridger C Clarke, Inj Prev 2001 7 3 234 241 10.1136/ip.7.3.234 11565992
32. Client and Birth Record Linkage: A Method, Biases, and Lessons. J Holian, American Journal of Evaluation 1996 17 3 227 235 10.1177/109821409601700303
33. Using data linkage to identify First Nations Manitobans: technical, ethical, and political issues. LS Jebamani CA Burchill PJ Martens, Can J Public Health 2005 96 Suppl 1 28 32 15686150
34. A record linkage protocol for a diabetes registry at ethnically diverse community health centers. NA Maizlish L Herrera, J Am Med Inform Assoc 2005 12 3 331 337 10.1197/jamia.M1696 15684130
35. Linking hospital discharge and death records - accuracy and sources of bias. DS Zingmond Z Ye SL Ettner H Liu, J Clin Epidemiol 2004 57 1 21 29 10.1016/S0895-4356(03)00250-6 15019007
36. Live birth and infant death record linkage: methodological and policy issues. J Holian, J Health Soc Policy 2000 12 1 1 10 10.1300/J045v12n01-01 11067212
37. Anonymous linkage of New Zealand mortality and Census data. T Blakely A Woodward C Salmond, Aust N Z J Public Health 2000 24 1 92 95 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2000.tb00732.x 10777988
38. Linking birth certificates with Medicaid data to enhance population health assessment: methodological issues addressed. ME Gyllstrom JL Jensen JN Vaughan SE Castellano JW Oswald, J Public Health Manag Pract 2002 8 4 38 44 15156637
39. Hospital readmissions for asthma: a feasibility study comparing strategies for linking hospital morbidity data. C Ringland PK Correll K Lim M Williamson GB Marks, Aust N Z J Public Health 2006 30 5 435 439 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2006.tb00459.x 17073224
40. A comparison of hospital and police road injury data. DL Rosman MW Knuiman, Accid Anal Prev 1994 26 2 215 222 10.1016/0001-4575(94)90091-4 8198690
41. How good is probabilistic record linkage to reconstruct reproductive histories? Results from the Aberdeen Children of the 1950 s study. D Nitsch S Morton BL DeStavola H Clark DA Leon, BMC Med Res Methodol 2006 6 15 10.1186/1471-2288-6-15 16553951
42. Record linkage in a regional mental health planning study: accuracy of unique identifiers, reliability of sociodemographics, and estimating identification error. AJ Dalrymple LS Lahti LJ Hutchinson JJ O'Doherty, J Ment Health Adm 1994 21 2 185 192 10.1007/BF02521325 10133779
43. AIDS and cancer registry linkage: measurement and enhancement of registry completeness. The National AIDS/Cancer Match Study Group. TR Cote TR O'Brien JW Ward SE Wilson WA Blattner, Prev Med 1995 24 4 375 377 10.1006/pmed.1995.1061 7479628
44. Methodological issues in linking study participants to Australian cancer registries using different methods: lessons from a cohort study. JL Hoving A Monaco E MacFarlane L Fritschi G Benke D McKenzie M Sim, Aust N Z J Public Health 2005 29 4 378 382 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2005.tb00210.x 16222937
45. Linking birth and infant death records with assisted reproductive technology data: Massachusetts, 1997-1998. S Sunderam LA Schieve B Cohen Z Zhang G Jeng M Reynolds V Wright C Johnson M Macaluso, Matern Child Health J 2006 10 2 115 125 10.1007/s10995-005-0013-7 16328709
46. Health services research using linked records: who consents and what is the gain? AF Young AJ Dobson JE Byles, Aust N Z J Public Health 2001 25 5 417 420 11688619
47. Linking survey data with administrative health information: characteristics associated with consent from a neonatal intensive care unit follow-up study. AF Klassen SK Lee M Barer P Raina, Can J Public Health 2005 96 2 151 154 15850038
48. Health services research using linked records: who consents and what is the gain?[see comment]. AF Young AJ Dobson JE Byles, Aust N Z J Public Health 2001 25 5 417 420 11688619
49. Measuring the accuracy and completeness of linking certificates for deliveries to the same woman. MM Adams RS Kirby, Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2007 21 s1 58 62 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2007.00838.x 17593198
50. Vital statistics linked birth/infant death and hospital discharge record linkage for epidemiological studies. B Herrchen JB Gould TS Nesbitt, Comput Biomed Res 1997 30 4 290 305 10.1006/cbmr.1997.1448 9339323
51. Record Linkage: Making the Most Out of Errors in Linking Variables. M Tromp JB Reitsma ACJ Ravelli N Méray GJ Bonsel, AMIA Annu Symp Proc 2006 779 783 17238447
52. Evaluating a new algorithm for linking maternal and newborn medical records. KR Grace G Waters CA Huether LD Edmonds P McClain, Genet Epidemiol 1995 12 4 361 369 10.1002/gepi.1370120404 8536953
53. Development of record linkage of hospital discharge data for the study of neonatal readmission. S Liu, Chronic Dis Can 1999 20 2 77 81 10455039
54. Mortality among prisoners: How accurate is the Australian Nationa Death Index? A Kariminia T Butler S Corben J Kaldor M Levy M Law, Aust N Z J Public Health 2005 29 6 572 575 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2005.tb00253.x 16366070
55. Accuracy of the Australian National Death Index: comparison with adjudicated fatal outcomes among Australian participants in the Long-term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) study. D Magliano D Liew H Pater A Kirby D Hunt J Simes V Sundararajan A Tonkin, Aust N Z J Public Health 2003 27 6 649 653 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00615.x 14723416
56. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. E von Elm DG Altman M Egger SJ Pocock PC Gotzsche JP Vandenbroucke, Lancet 2007 370 9596 1453 1457 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61602-X 18064739
57. Evidence of methodological bias in hospital standardised mortality ratios: retrospective database study of English hospitals. MA Mohammed JJ Deeks A Girling G Rudge M Carmalt AJ Stevens RJ Lilford, BMJ 2009 338 780 10.1136/bmj.b780 19297447
58. Data linkage enables evaluation of long-term survival after intensive care. T Williams G Dobb J Finn M Knuiman K Lee E Geelhoed S Webb, Anaesth Intensive Care 2006 34 3 307 315 16802482
59. Relationships between emerging measures of heart failure processes of care and clinical outcomes. AF Hernandez BG Hammill ED Peterson CW Yancy KA Schulman LH Curtis GC Fonarow, Am Heart J 159 3 406 413 10.1016/j.ahj.2009.12. 024 20211302
60. Repeat adverse drug reactions causing hospitalization in older Australians: a population-based longitudinal study 1980-2003. M Zhang CD Holman DB Preen K Brameld, Br J Clin Pharmacol 2007 63 2 163 170 10.1111/j.1365-2125. 2006.02839.x 17274789