A decade of data linkage in Western Australia: strategic design, applications and benefits of the WA data linkage system.
OBJECTIVE
The report describes the strategic design, steps to full implementation and outcomes achieved by the Western Australian Data Linkage System (WADLS), instigated in 1995 to link up to 40 years of data from over 30 collections for an historical population of 3.7 million. Staged development has seen its expansion, initially from a linkage key to local health data sets, to encompass links to national and local health and welfare data sets, genealogical links and spatial references for mapping applications.


CONCLUSIONS
The WADLS has supported over 400 studies with over 250 journal publications and 35 graduate research degrees. Applications have occurred in health services utilisation and outcomes, aetiologic research, disease surveillance and needs analysis, and in methodologic research.


RESULTS
Longitudinal studies have become cheaper and more complete; deletion of duplicate records and correction of data artifacts have enhanced the quality of information assets; data linkage has conserved patient privacy; community machinery necessary for organised responses to health and social problems has been exercised; and the commercial return on research infrastructure investment has exceeded 1000%. Most importantly, there have been unbiased contributions to medical knowledge and identifiable advances in population health arising from the research.
Holman
C D'Arcy J
CD
Centre for Health Services Research, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia. dholman@meddent.uwa.edu.au
Bass
A John
AJ
Rosman
Diana L
DL
Smith
Merran B
MB
Semmens
James B
JB
Glasson
Emma J
EJ
Brook
Emma L
EL
Trutwein
Brooke
B
Rouse
Ian L
IL
Watson
Charles R
CR
de Klerk
Nicholas H
NH
Stanley
Fiona J
FJ
D016208:Databases, Factual; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008498:Medical Record Linkage / Q000379:methods*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014904:Western Australia