A Framework for Evaluation of Secondary Data Sources for Epidemiological Research

Overview

Journal Int J Epidemiol

Specialty Public Health

Date 1996 Apr 1

PMID 9119571

Citations 147

Authors

H T Sorensen

S Sabroe

J Olsen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: As part of the development in information technology, increasing amounts of health care data are available for epidemiological research.

Methods: In this review, we discuss the following factors affecting the value of secondary data in research: 1) completeness of registration of individuals, 2) the accuracy and degree of completeness of the registered data, 3) the size of the data source, 4) the registration period, 5) data accessibility, availability and cost, 6) data format, and 7) possibilities of linkage with other data sources (record linkage).

Results And Conclusion: The importance of these issues depends on the use of the data and on the problems they have to address. If the evaluation is satisfactory with respect to the above-mentioned factors relevant to the particular study, the data source could be a very cost-effective way of solving the research problem.

Citing Articles

Epidemiology of Yellow Fever in Nigeria: Analysis of Climatic, Ecological, Socio-Demographic, and Clinical Factors Associated with Viral Positivity Among Suspected Cases Using National Surveillance Data, 2017-2023.

Akar S, Nwachukwu W, Adewuyi O, Ahumibe A, Akanimo I, Okunromade O J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2025; 15(1):2.

PMID: 39833495 PMC: 11747028. DOI: 10.1007/s44197-025-00341-w.

The Danish National Hospital Medication Register: A Resource for Pharmacoepidemiology.

Rosenkrantz O, Wheler J, Westphal Thrane M, Pedersen L, Sorensen H Clin Epidemiol. 2024; 16:783-792.

PMID: 39559743 PMC: 11572433. DOI: 10.2147/CLEP.S487838.

Statin treatment for primary and secondary prevention in elderly patients-a cross-sectional study in Stockholm, Sweden.

Wettermark B, Kalantaripour C, Forslund T, Hjemdahl P Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2024; 80(10):1571-1580.

PMID: 39012537 PMC: 11393277. DOI: 10.1007/s00228-024-03724-3.

A Standard Framework for Evaluating Large Health Care Data and Related Resources.

El Burai Felix S, Yusuf H, Ritchey M, Romano S, Namulanda G, Wilkins N MMWR Suppl. 2024; 73(3):1-13.

PMID: 38713639 PMC: 11078514. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.su7303a1.

Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018.

Wan Puteh S, Aazmi M, Aziz M, Kamarudin N, Sam J, Thayan R PLoS One. 2024; 19(3):e0301068.

PMID: 38517867 PMC: 10959333. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301068.