Catalogue number: 892000062024003
Release date: November 25, 2024
This video is intended for professionals, policymakers, and researchers who are interested in understanding how data linkage can be used to gain deeper insights into various issues. It demonstrates how combining data from different sources can help address gaps in information, leading to better-informed policies and improved outcomes.
- Data journey step
- Explore, clean, describe
- Data competency
-
- Data exploration
- Data gathering
- Audience
- Basic
- Suggested prerequisites
- N/A
- Length
- 4:09
- Cost
- Free
Watch the video
Unlock the Power of Data Linkage - Transcript
Data Accuracy and Validation: Methods to ensure the quality of data - Transcript
Onscreen: "Unlock the Power of Data Linkage"
This is Camille. Camille is part of a team responsible for advising the Ministry of Health on emerging public health issues.
Recently, her team has been trying to understand how socio-demographic factors, such as age, gender, and education,
Onscreen: "Socio-demographic factors, age, gender, and education"
as well as health-related habits like sleep or physical activity, are associated with hospitalization for patients living with diabetes.
Onscreen: "Socio-demographic factors, sleep and physical activity"
After some initial research, they realize that hospital records alone don't allow for a full investigation of this issue because they don't include details about the patient's background or behaviours.
Onscreen: "Hospital records alone lack crucial details about patient background and behaviours."
If only Camille could supplement the missing information from the hospital records with socio-demographic and behavioural data from other sources and link them together. Good news for Camille – she can!
Data linkage is a powerful tool that combines information from different sources to create a more comprehensive dataset. This process enhances data value, leading to better insights, improved services, and more effective policy making.
Onscreen: "Better insights, improved services, and more effective policy making"
How is data linkage important?
Improved Patient Care: In this case, by linking various sources of health data, Camille is able to gain deeper insights into patient care, treatment outcomes, and determinants of health.
Enhanced Public Health: Linking these data will help identify current health trends and inform strategies to address them.
Effective Policy Making: Combining data sources provides a holistic view, enabling more informed decisions.
Onscreen: "How is data linkage important? Improved Patient Care, Enhanced Public Health and Effective Policy Making"
Camille's first step is to identify potential data sources to link. After meeting with Statistics Canada, she identifies two useful datasets for her purpose:
Onscreen: "Camille's first step, Camille identifies two useful datasets after meeting with Statistics Canada."
Statistics Canada:
The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) collects data on diagnosed chronic conditions, including diabetes, socio-demographic characteristics, and health behaviours like smoking and physical exercise.
Onscreen: "The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), Diabetes, Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Health behaviours."
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI):
The Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) contains data on all hospital inpatient stays across Canada (excluding Quebec).
Onscreen: "Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), The Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) contains data on all hospital inpatient stays across Canada (excluding Quebec)."
Using data from the CCHS and the DAD, Camille can explore how likely it is that patients with different profiles might be hospitalized due to diabetes.
Onscreen: "CCHS, DAD and new dataset."
So, with the help of her partners at Statistics Canada, the process of linking these two data sources is initiated. She will now have a dataset that can help her determine whether socio-demographic factors and health-related habits are associated with hospitalizations for patients living with diabetes.
After analyzing the data, Camille and her team discover that specific groups are more at-risk for diabetes-related hospitalizations, including patients with lower educational attainment and lower levels of physical activity.
Onscreen: "Specific groups are more at-risk for diabetes-related hospitalizations."
Onscreen: "Including patients with lower educational attainment and lower levels of physical activity."
And now for the fine print…It is important to remember that, while data linkage can be extremely helpful, it can also raise concerns about data privacy.
Onscreen: "The fine print."
Onscreen: "!"
To address these concerns, Statistics Canada has implemented strict protocols to protect the privacy of Canadians.
Onscreen: "A padlock being locked."
For example, any record linkage involving personal information must prove that the public benefit outweighs the potential risks.
Onscreen: "The public benefit outweighs the potential risks."
To do this, detailed procedures to protect privacy must be outlined. You can learn more about these procedures in the Directive on Microdata Linkage at statcan.gc.ca.
Onscreen: "Directive on Microdata Linkage at statcan.gc.ca."
Additionally, a Senior Management Sensitivity Check might be required if the record linkage involves acquiring data not collected by Statistics Canada. This sensitivity check ensures the data will be used responsibly.
Onscreen: "To ensure responsible use, a senior management sensitivity check may be required for linking data not collected by Statistics Canada."
Finally, all approved microdata linkages must be reported to Parliament and posted on Statistics Canada's website. Any member of the public can view these by searching "Approved Microdata Linkages" at www.statcan.gc.ca.
Onscreen: "Finally, all approved microdata linkages must be reported to Parliament and posted on Statistics Canada's website."
Onscreen: "Approved Microdata Linkages"
By using data linkage, Camille is now able to advise the Ministry of health that specific groups are more at-risk of hospitalization for diabetes. This holistic approach allows her to provide a more comprehensive view of this healthcare issue and contribute to improved public health policies.
Onscreen: "This holistic approach contributes to improved public health policies."
Interested in learning more about data linkage? Visit www.statcan.gc.ca and search "Data Linkage" to explore how you can work with experts at Statistics Canada to unlock the power of data linkage.
Onscreen: "Interested in learning more? www.statcan.gc.ca."
Onscreen: "Data Linkage."
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