Open AccessData linkage for injury surveillance and research in Australia: perils, pitfalls and potential
Author(s) -
Mitchell Rebecca J.,
Cameron Cate M.,
Bambach Mike R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/1753-6405.12234
Subject(s) - linkage (software) , data quality , injury surveillance , data science , key (lock) , data collection , record linkage , computer science , data mining , computer security , poison control , medicine , injury prevention , medical emergency , engineering , operations management , environmental health , sociology , metric (unit) , biochemistry , chemistry , social science , population , gene
Objective : To outline some of the key issues for injury‐related data linkage studies in Australia and describe potential applications of data linkage for injury surveillance and research. Methods : Narrative review of data linkage capacity and injury‐related data collection quality in Australia. Results : The establishment of national and state‐based data linkage centres in Australia has been a great leap forward for data linkage capacity for injury research. However, there are still limitations of using data linkage for injury surveillance and research. These are highlighted in the form of key perils and pitfalls, with examples provided. There is still much to be gained for injury research by using data linkage techniques to enhance the information available across the injury continuum, but data quality issues should always be acknowledged. Conclusions : Obtaining authorisation to link injury data collections for national research remains cumbersome. Streamlining of the application process is needed to ensure that injury research is able to be conducted in a timely fashion. Data quality and data linkage rates need to be considered when interpreting research findings. Implications : Streamlining of the application process for research that involves linking data collections would help ensure that research is conducted in a timely fashion.