scholarly journals An assessment of using frequency weights for record linkage

Author(s):  
Marc Roemer ◽  
Scott Campbell

Many different techniques can be used to perform entity-to-entity record linkage.  The optimal approach may relate to the entity type, such as individual or establishment, and source, such as sample survey, enumeration, program administration, or register.  Within the Fellegi-Sunter record linkage framework, the frequency of occurrence of match variables’ values can be either employed or ignored when estimating the probabilities from which the match weights are derived.  Namely, the U-probability that a variable agrees in a pair of non-matched records, is estimated for each value of a match variable in the frequency-based approach, or in general in the non-frequency-based approach.  The aim of this talk is to compare the quality of results produced by the frequency-based and non-frequency-based approaches when linking a household survey and an establishment survey to vital records.  A household survey, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and an establishment survey, the National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS) are each linked to the National Death Index (NDI) using the Fellegi-Sunter record linkage framework.  We perform the linkage on each survey twice; first, employing frequency-based weights for all match variables, and second, simple agree/disagree weights for all match variables.  We then examine any differences in quality within each survey, and assess whether any differences in the quality of the two approaches are attributable to the type of survey, household versus establishment.

Author(s):  
Russell L. Steere ◽  
Eric F. Erbe ◽  
J. Michael Moseley

We have designed and built an electronic device which compares the resistance of a defined area of vacuum evaporated material with a variable resistor. When the two resistances are matched, the device automatically disconnects the primary side of the substrate transformer and stops further evaporation.This approach to controlled evaporation in conjunction with the modified guns and evaporation source permits reliably reproducible multiple Pt shadow films from a single Pt wrapped carbon point source. The reproducibility from consecutive C point sources is also reliable. Furthermore, the device we have developed permits us to select a predetermined resistance so that low contrast high-resolution shadows, heavy high contrast shadows, or any grade in between can be selected at will. The reproducibility and quality of results are demonstrated in Figures 1-4 which represent evaporations at various settings of the variable resistor.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjam Peters ◽  
Petra Kolip ◽  
Rainhild Schäfers

Abstract Background Home postpartum care is a major part of midwifery care in Germany. The user perspective plays an increasingly important role in the evaluation of health services, but there is a lack of valid and theoretically based measuring instruments, especially in midwifery care. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an instrument for measuring quality of midwifery care in the postpartum period from the perspective of women. Methods The following steps were taken to achieve this: (1) definition of the goals of midwifery work; (2) literature-based item development; (3) item selection based on a pre-test (n = 16); (4) item reduction and investigation of factor structure by means of explorative factor analysis (EFA; n = 133);(5) second EFA (n = 741) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; n = 744) based on a split representative sample survey; (6) hypothesis-based testing of correlations to sociodemographic characteristics of women and to characteristics of care. Results Measurement of Midwifery quality postpartum (MMAYpostpartum) consists of three scales with a total of 17 items which were found to have acceptable internal consistency: Personal Control (Cronbach’s alpha = .80), Trusting Relationship (Cronbach’s alpha = .87) and Orientation and Security (Cronbach’s alpha = .78). CFA verified and confirmed three factors: CFI = .928, TLI = .914, RMSEA = 0.073. Conclusion MMAYpostpartum is a predominantly valid, reliable short tool for evaluating the quality of midwifery care postpartum. It can be used to evaluate midwifery care, to compare different care models and in intervention research. It thus supports the orientation of midwives’ work towards the needs of women and their families.


2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 399-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ringenburg ◽  
Adrian Sampson ◽  
Isaac Ackerman ◽  
Luis Ceze ◽  
Dan Grossman
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Lisa Van Wilder ◽  
Brecht Devleesschauwer ◽  
Els Clays ◽  
Stefanie De Buyser ◽  
Johan Van der Heyden ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Chronic diseases and multimorbidity are a major cause of disease burden—for patients, caregivers, and society. Little is known however about potential interaction effects between specific disease combinations. Besides an additive effect, the presence of multiple conditions could also act synergistically or antagonistically regarding the impact on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim was to estimate the impact of coexisting chronic diseases on HRQoL of the adult general Belgian population. Methods The Belgian Health Interview Survey 2018 provided data on self-reported chronic conditions and HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L) for a nationally representative sample. Linear mixed models were used to analyze two-way and three-way interactions of disease combinations on HRQoL. Results Multimorbidity had a prevalence of 46.7% (≥ 2 conditions) and 29.7% (≥ 3 conditions). HRQoL decreased considerably with the presence of multiple chronic diseases. 14 out of 41 dyad combinations and 5 out of 13 triad combinations showed significant interactions, with a dominant presence of negative/synergistic effects. Positive/antagonistic effects were found in more subjective chronic diseases such as depression and chronic fatigue. Conditions appearing the most frequently in significant disease pair interactions were dorsopathies, respiratory diseases, and arthropathies. Conclusions Diverse multimorbidity patterns, both dyads and triads, were synergistically or antagonistically associated with lower HRQoL. Tackling the burden of multimorbidity is needed, especially because most disease combinations affect each other synergistically, resulting in a greater reduction in HRQoL. Further knowledge about those multimorbidity patterns with a greater impact on HRQoL is needed to better understand disease burden beyond mortality and morbidity data.


Author(s):  
Anna Ferrante ◽  
James Boyd ◽  
Sean Randall ◽  
Adrian Brown ◽  
James Semmens

ABSTRACT ObjectivesRecord linkage is a powerful technique which transforms discrete episode data into longitudinal person-based records. These records enable the construction and analysis of complex pathways of health and disease progression, and service use. Achieving high linkage quality is essential for ensuring the quality and integrity of research based on linked data. The methods used to assess linkage quality will depend on the volume and characteristics of the datasets involved, the processes used for linkage and the additional information available for quality assessment. This paper proposes and evaluates two methods to routinely assess linkage quality. ApproachLinkage units currently use a range of methods to measure, monitor and improve linkage quality; however, no common approach or standards exist. There is an urgent need to develop “best practices” in evaluating, reporting and benchmarking linkage quality. In assessing linkage quality, of primary interest is in knowing the number of true matches and non-matches identified as links and non-links. Any misclassification of matches within these groups introduces linkage errors. We present efforts to develop sharable methods to measure linkage quality in Australia. This includes a sampling-based method to estimate both precision (accuracy) and recall (sensitivity) following record linkage and a benchmarking method - a transparent and transportable methodology to benchmark the quality of linkages across different operational environments. ResultsThe sampling-based method achieved estimates of linkage quality that were very close to actual linkage quality metrics. This method presents as a feasible means of accurately estimating matching quality and refining linkages in population level linkage studies. The benchmarking method provides a systematic approach to estimating linkage quality with a set of open and shareable datasets and a set of well-defined, established performance metrics. The method provides an opportunity to benchmark the linkage quality of different record linkage operations. Both methods have the potential to assess the inter-rater reliability of clerical reviews. ConclusionsBoth methods produce reliable estimates of linkage quality enabling the exchange of information within and between linkage communities. It is important that researchers can assess risk in studies using record linkage techniques. Understanding the impact of linkage quality on research outputs highlights a need for standard methods to routinely measure linkage quality. These two methods provide a good start to the quality process, but it is important to identify standards and good practices in all parts of the linkage process (pre-processing, standardising activities, linkage, grouping and extracting).


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 37-45
Author(s):  
R. P. Aichepsheva

The article addresses organizational challenges and methodological issues that state statistical bodies face while preparing for and conducting household budget sample survey (HBS). Among these problems, the author considers the difficulties associated with ensuring the quality of HBS results and minimizing the number of respondent refusals to participate in this observation.According to the author, the range of tasks to be solved includes, among other things, methodological and organizational aspects, such as the need to review certain regulations of the HBS by-laws, search for reserves to reduce the survey program, to change the order of generating sample units, and a number of other provisions. In this regard, the author proposes to decrease the information load on respondents. It includes reducing the time of filling out the questionnaire, as well as applying an updated approach to the formation of the respondent network. In addition, the author emphasizes the need to increase the level of automation of collecting and processing of primary HBS data.


Mechanika ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-264
Author(s):  
Andrzej BORAWSKI ◽  
Dariusz SZPICA ◽  
Grzegorz MIECZKOWSKI

Simulation tests have currently become very popular. It gives access to values and parameters which are difficult or impossible to obtain in real conditions. However, in many cases the accuracy of the results may raise concerns, as not every researcher conducts verification tests. This article looks into the quality of results obtained in virtual tests. The tests were conducted using a pin-on-disc station. The main parameter of the verification study was the temperature of the pin measured along its axis at 1mm from the friction surface. This shows that computer models produce results which accurately reflect real-life phenomena.


Author(s):  
Jingli Chen ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Yifan Jia ◽  
Zhongyuan Xia ◽  
Jishi Ye

In the past 16 years, research on mitophagy has increasingly expanded to a wider range of subjects. Therefore, comprehensively analyzing the relevant progress and development trends on mitophagy research requires specific methods. To assess the hotspots, directions, and quality of results in this field worldwide, we used multiple tools to examine research progress and growing trends in research on the matter during the last 16 years (from 2005 to 2020). We also compared the quantity and quality of the literature records on mitophagy published by research institutions in China and other developed countries, reviewed China’s contribution, and examined the gap between China and these developed countries. According to the results of our bibliometric analysis, the United States and its research institutes published the most papers. We identified cell biology as the most commonly researched subject on mitophagy and AUTOPHAGY as the most popular journal for research on mitophagy. We also listed the most cited documents from around the world and China. With gradually increased funding, China is progressively becoming prominent in the field of mitophagy; nevertheless, the gap between her and major countries in the world must be closed.


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