Open AccessA privacy challenge to longitudinal study methods: patient‐derived codes
Author(s) -
Clay Fiona J.,
OzanneSmith Joan,
Watson Wendy,
Congiu Melinda,
Fox Barbara
Publication year - 2006
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/j.1467-842x.2006.tb00848.x
Subject(s) - legislation , coding (social sciences) , compromise , internet privacy , code (set theory) , longitudinal study , computer science , health information , psychology , medicine , health care , statistics , political science , law , mathematics , set (abstract data type) , pathology , programming language
Recent changes to privacy legislation in Australia have resulted in more stringent requirements with respect to maintaining the confdentiality of patient health information. We describe a method employed to de‐identify health information collected in a longitudinal study using codes. Using a patient‐derived code that did not change during the life of the study follow‐up resulted in errors in a quarter of the follow‐up surveys. This may introduce bias that could compromise the validity of the study. Alternative methods of coding may alleviate some of these issues. However, removal of some of the constraints imposed by interpretations of privacy legislation may be the best way forward.