Dataset Information

Using Record Linkage to Improve Race Data Quality for American Indians and Alaska Natives in Two Pacific Northwest State Hospital Discharge Databases.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate and adjust for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) racial misclassification in two hospital discharge datasets in the Pacific Northwest.

Data sources/study setting

Oregon (2010-2011) and Washington (2011) hospital discharge datasets were linked with the Northwest Tribal Registry (NTR), a registry of AI/AN individuals who accessed services at Indian health facilities in the Northwest.

Study design

Record linkage was used to match state hospital records to the NTR. A state record was considered misclassified if it matched the NTR and was coded as non-AI/AN or missing race data. Effect of misclassification was evaluated by comparing prelinkage and postlinkage, age-adjusted hospital discharge rates.