Academic Journal
Examining the quality of name code record linkage: what is the impact on death and cancer risk estimates? A validation study
| Title: | Examining the quality of name code record linkage: what is the impact on death and cancer risk estimates? A validation study |
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| Authors: | Alexander Swart, Nicola S. Meagher, Marina T. van Leeuwen, Kun Zhao, Andrew Grulich, Limin Mao, Deborah Anne Randall, Louisa Degenhardt, Lucy Burns, Dianne O'Connell, Janaki Amin, Claire M. Vajdic |
| Source: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Vol 39, Iss 2, Pp 141-147 (2015) |
| Publisher Information: | Elsevier, 2015. |
| Publication Year: | 2015 |
| Collection: | LCC:Public aspects of medicine |
| Subject Terms: | record linkage, name code, accuracy, validity, sensitivity, specificity, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270 |
| More Details: | Abstract Objective: To examine the validity and impact of record linkage using name code compared to full name records. Methods: A registry of 45,419 opioid substitution clients (1985–2007) was linked with national population‐based death and cancer registries using registrant's name, date of birth, sex, state, postcode and date of death. Records were linked using full name and then using the first two letters of the given and surname (2×2 name code). Sensitivity and specificity were computed and regression analysis used to identify factors related to linkage accuracy. Standardised mortality ratios (SMR) and standardised cancer incidence ratios (SIR) were estimated. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of name code compared to full name linkage were 65.31% and 99.91% for death records and 76.81% and 99.89% for cancer records. Registrants' age and sex and accuracy of the registries were associated with risk of false linkages. Death and cancer risks (SMR 6.98, 95%CI 6.77–7.19; SIR 1.16, 95%CI 1.08–1.24) were significantly under‐estimated using name code linkage (SMR 4.39, 95%CI 4.23–4.56; SIR 0.92, 95%CI 0.85–0.99). Conclusion: Record linkage using 2×2 name code has low sensitivity but high specificity, resulting in conservative estimates of death and cancer risk. This may translate to meaningful differences in outcomes. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1753-6405 1326-0200 |
| Relation: | https://doaj.org/toc/1326-0200; https://doaj.org/toc/1753-6405 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/1753-6405.12287 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/7eb4f2c2a9cc4fff8083cd04ae2f999e |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.7eb4f2c2a9cc4fff8083cd04ae2f999e |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| ISSN: | 17536405 13260200 |
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| DOI: | 10.1111/1753-6405.12287 |
| Published in: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Language: | English |