Comparing Methods for Record Linkage for Public Health Action: Matching Algorithm Validation Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many public health departments use record linkage between surveillance data and external data sources to inform public health interventions. However, little guidance is available to inform these activities, and many health departments rely on deterministic algorithms that may miss many true matches. In the context of public health action, these missed matches lead to missed opportunities to deliver interventions and may exacerbate existing health inequities.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the performance of record linkage algorithms commonly used in public health practice.

Methods

We compared five deterministic (exact, Stenger, Ocampo 1, Ocampo 2, and Bosh) and two probabilistic record linkage algorithms (fastLink and beta record linkage [BRL]) using

SUBMITTER: Avoundjian T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7226047 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature