title: Developing a non-categorical measure of child health using administrative data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the potential of linked administrative data for research on child health. This analysis describes the application of a non-categorical survey-based tool, the Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Screener, to administrative data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five Screener items were applied to linked administrative health data from Population Data British Columbia. Hospital admissions and demographic and community characteristics for a cohort of children aged 6 to 10 in 2006 were examined to validate the use of these items.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 17.5% of children were identified as CSHCN. An estimated 14% of children used more medical care and 5.2% had more functional limitations than is usual for children of the same age; 3.3% were prescribed long-term medication; 1.9% needed/received treatment or counselling; and 0.1% needed/received special therapy. Boys were more likely than girls to be identified as CSHCN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With some limitations, the CSHCN Screener can be applied to Canadian administrative health data.
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Rubab G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Arim
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Dafna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kohen
authors.affiliation: the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
authors.forename: Jamie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brehaut
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guèvremont
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Rochelle E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Anton R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Kimberlyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McGrail
authors.affiliation: University of Manitoba.
authors.forename: Marni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brownell
authors.affiliation: McGill University.
authors.forename: Lucy M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lach
authors.affiliation: McMaster University.
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D000067576:Child Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D003376:Counseling; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Child health services; children with disabilities; data linkage; medical record linkage