title: Capture-recapture estimates of the undercount of workplace injuries and illnesses: sensitivity analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, capture-recapture methods have been applied to state Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and workers' compensation data, but uncertainties arise because of population differences between the two sources, likely source dependence, and concerns about the accuracy of case linkage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We linked SOII and workers' compensation records for California and used capture-recapture methods to estimate the proportion of injuries and illnesses involving at least 4 days away from work captured by each source. We then did a sensitivity analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assuming source independence, estimates of the proportion of injuries and illnesses involving at least 4 days away from work captured by the SOII varied from 42.4% to 49.0%, while workers' compensation estimates were between 76.9% and 77.6%. Re-estimating SOII capture rates assuming source dependence (OR = 3) reduced capture estimates substantially.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimated capture rates remained low after changing several of the underlying assumptions. Positive source dependence had the greatest impact.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Leslie I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Boden
mesh_terms: D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035501:Uncertainty; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: capture-recapture analysis; injury surveillance; occupational injury and illness reporting; sensitivity analysis