title: Limited privacy protection and poor sensitivity: Is it time to move on from the statistical linkage key-581?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The statistical linkage key (SLK-581) is a common tool for record linkage in Australia, due to its ability to provide some privacy protection. However, newer privacy-preserving approaches may provide greater privacy protection, while allowing high-quality linkage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the standard SLK-581, encrypted SLK-581 and a newer privacy-preserving approach using Bloom filters, in terms of both privacy and linkage quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Linkage quality was compared by conducting linkages on Australian health datasets using these three techniques and examining results. Privacy was compared qualitatively in relation to a series of scenarios where privacy breaches may occur.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Bloom filter technique offered greater privacy protection and linkage quality compared to the SLK-based method commonly used in Australia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adoption of new privacy-preserving methods would allow both greater confidence in research results, while significantly improving privacy protection.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin University, Australia sean.randall@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin University, Australia.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin University, Australia.
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Semmens
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001315:Australia; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008498:Medical Record Linkage / Q000592:standards*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012984:Software
keywords: algorithms; data linkage; evaluation studies; medical record linkage; privacy