Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Creating a Population-based Linked Health Database: A New Resource for Health Services Research

  • Published:
Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As the availability of both health utilization and outcome information becomes increasingly important to health care researchers and policy makers, the ability to link person-specific health data becomes a critical objective. The integration of populationbased administrative health databases has been realized in British Columbia by constructing an historical file of all persons registered with the health care system, and by probabilistically linking various program files to this ‘coordinating’ file. The linkages have achieved a high rate of success in matching service events to person-specific registration records. This success has allowed research projects to be proposed which would otherwise not have been feasible, and has initiated the development of policies and procedures regarding research access to linked data. These policies and procedures include a framework for addressing the ethical issues surrounding data linkage. With continued attention to confidentiality issues, these linked data present a valuable resource for health services research and planning.

Résumé

L’accès aux données concernant l’utilisation des services de santé et l’impact des interventions devient de plus en plus important pour les chercheurs en services médicaux et les élaborateurs de politiques de santé. La capacité de lier les données d’identification individuelle devient un objectif essentiel. L’intégration de larges banques de données a été réalisée en Colombie-Britannique en constituant un dossier historique (de coordination) de toutes les personnes enregistrées avec le système de services médicaux. Ceci permet de créer un lien entre plusieurs banques de données d’utilisation des services et les données d’identification individuelle. Ce succès a permis la soumission de nouveaux projets de recherche qui ne seraient autrement pas possible, et le développement de politiques et procédures en ce qui concerne l’accès aux données liées. Ces politiques et procédures incluent une structure pour traiter les questions d’éthique concernant les données liées. En tenant compte des questions de confidentialité, les données liées sont présentement une ressource de grande valeur pour la recherche et la planification des services de santé.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cote TR, O’Brien TR, Ward JW, Et al. AIDS and cancer registry linkage: Measurement and enhancement of registry completeness. Prev Med 1995;24(4):375–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Potosky AL, Riley GF, Lubitz JD, Et al. Potential for cancer related health services research using a linked Medicare-tumor registry database. Med Care 1993;31(8):732–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Langley JD, Botha, JL. Use of record linkage techniques to maintain the Leicestershire Diabetes Register. Computer Methods & Programs in Biomedicine 1994;41(3–4):287–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Stanley FJ, Croft ML, Gibbins J, Et al. A population database for maternal and child health research in Western Australia using record linkage. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiol 1994;8:433–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Katz SJ, Armstrong RW, LoGerfo, JP. The adequacy of prenatal care and incidence of low birthweight among the poor in Washington State and British Columbia. Am J Public Health 1994;84(6):986–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Dodds L, Marrett LD, Tomkins DJ, Et al. Casecontrol study of congenital anomalies in children of cancer patients. BMJ 1993;307:164–68.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Roos NP, Shapiro E (Eds.). Experience with a population-based health information system. Med Care (Supplement). 1995;33(12).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Newcombe, HB. Handbook of Record Linkage. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Newcombe, HB. Record linking: The design of efficient systems for linking records into individual and family histories. In: Baldwin JA, Acheson ED, And Graham WJ (Eds.). Textbook of Medical Record Linkage. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gill LE, Baldwin, JA. Methods and technology of record linkage: Some practical considerations. In: Baldwin JA, Acheson ED, And Graham WJ (Eds.). Textbook of Medical Record Linkage. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  11. British Columbia Ministry of Health and Centre for Health Services and Policy Research. Access Policy for Research Uses of Linked Health Data. Victoria. 1996.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, University of British Columbia, 429-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada

    Richard Chamberlayne MA, Bo Green BMath, Morris L. Barer PhD, MBA, Clyde Hertzman MD, MSc & Samuel B. Sheps MD, MSc

  2. Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Canada

    Morris L. Barer PhD, MBA, Clyde Hertzman MD, MSc & Samuel B. Sheps MD, MSc

  3. British Columbia Ministry of Health, Canada

    William J. Lawrence MA

Authors
  1. Richard Chamberlayne MA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bo Green BMath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Morris L. Barer PhD, MBA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Clyde Hertzman MD, MSc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. William J. Lawrence MA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Samuel B. Sheps MD, MSc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chamberlayne, R., Green, B., Barer, M.L. et al. Creating a Population-based Linked Health Database: A New Resource for Health Services Research. Can J Public Health 89, 270–273 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403934

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403934

Search

Navigation