Data quality in an information-rich environment: Canada as an example.
This review evaluates the quality of available administrative data in the Canadian provinces, emphasizing the information needed to create integrated systems. We explicitly compare approaches to quality measurement, indicating where record linkage can and cannot substitute for more expensive record re-abstraction. Forty-nine original studies evaluating Canadian administrative data (registries, hospital abstracts, physician claims, and prescription drugs) are summarized in a structured manner. Registries, hospital abstracts, and physician files appear to be generally of satisfactory quality, though much work remains to be done. Data quality did not vary systematically among provinces. Primary data collection to check place of residence and longitudinal follow-up in provincial registries is needed. Promising initial checks of pharmaceutical data should be expanded. Because record linkage studies were ''conservative'' in reporting reliability, the reduction of time-consuming record re-abstraction appears feasible in many cases. Finally, expanding the scope of administrative data to study health, as well as health care, seems possible for some chronic conditions. The research potential of the information-rich environments being created highlights the importance of data quality.
Roos
Leslie L
LL
Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 4th Floor Brodie Centre, Room 408, 727 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P5, Canada. Leslie_Roos@cpe.umanitoba.ca
Gupta
Sumit
S
Soodeen
Ruth-Ann
RA
Jebamani
Laurel
L
D002170:Canada; D006753:Hospital Records / Q000592:standards*; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design