© 1996 Oxford University Press
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A Framework for Evaluation of Secondary Data Sources for Epidemiological Research
* Department of Internal Medicine V, Aarhus University Hospital DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
** Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Aarhus DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
The Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, The Steno Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Reprint requests to: Henrik Toft Sørensen, The Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Nørrebrogade 44, Building 2c, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
BACKGROUND: As part of the development in information technology, increasing amounts of health care data are available for epidemiological research.
METHODS: In this review, we discuss the following factors affecting the value of secondary data in research: 1) completeness of registration of individuals, 2) the accuracy and degree of completeness of the registered data, 3) the size of the data source, 4) the registration period, 5) data accesibility, availability and cost, 6) data format, and 7) possibilities of linkage with other data sources (record Iinkage).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The importance of these issues depends on the use of the data and on the problems they have to address. If the evaluation is satisfactory with respect to the above-mentioned factors relevant to the particular study, the data source could be a very cosl-effective way of solving the research problem
Keywords evaluation, validity, accuracy, information systems, data sources, records
Revised 1 July 1995
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