|
|
|
|
|
Mike Zdeb, MS, Department of Epidemiology, University at Albany, School of Public Health, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, 518-402-6479, msz03@albany.edu
Two common data sources for studies of reproductive health issues are vital statistics and hospital discharge data. Both data systems collect information on the same populations, mothers and infants. One item missing from many research papers that use either or both data sources is a discussion of data quality. This study uses the hospital as the unit of analysis and compares the data reported by each hospital in upstate New York to the vital statistics records system to that reported to the hospital discharge record system. Both demographic and medical data are compared for the period 1999 through 2001.
This study found that while there is agreement between the information in the two records systems for some items (infant gender, teen moms, low birth weight infants), there is little comparability for a wide range of other items. These non-comparable items include: demographic (white/black mothers and infants, Hispanic mothers and infants, Medicaid funded deliveries); medical ( previous cesarean childbirth, risk factors such as fetal distress, cord prolapse, premature rupture of membranes, abruptio placenta). Given the differences in the data from the two record systems, there is the potential of different results in research conducted on data from the same population since the results may not be due to a real effect, but one due to choice of data source.
The similarities and differences are shown in a series of plots and the suggestion is made that any study on reproductive health issues using vital statistics and/or hospital discharge data contain not only information on data source, but also on data quality.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Reproductive Health Research, Data/Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.