title: Analysis of ethnic disparities in workers' compensation claims using data linkage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The overall goal of this research project was to assess ethnic disparities in monetary compensation among construction workers injured on the job through the linkage of medical records and workers' compensation data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Probabilistic linkage of medical records with workers' compensation claim data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the final multivariable robust regression model, compensation was $5824 higher (P = 0.030; 95% confidence interval: 551 to 11,097) for white non-Hispanic workers than for other ethnic groups when controlling for injury severity, affected body region, type of injury, average weekly wage, weeks of temporary total disability, percent permanent partial disability, death, or attorney use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis indicates that white non-Hispanic construction workers are awarded higher monetary settlements despite the observation that for specific injuries the mean temporary total disability and permanent partial disability were equivalent to or lower than those in Hispanic and black construction workers.
authors: School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA. lfriedman@tspri.org
authors: Lee S
authors: LS
authors: Friedman
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Ruestow
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Forst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D060389:Construction Industry / Q000191:economics*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000208:ethnology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D044465:White People; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics*; D055815:Young Adult