Assessing the quality of administrative data for research: a framework from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy

Abstract

The growth of administrative data repositories worldwide has spurred the development and application of data quality frameworks to ensure that research analyses based on these data can be used to draw meaningful conclusions. However, the research literature on administrative data quality is sparse, and there is little consensus regarding which dimensions of data quality should be measured. Here we present the core dimensions of the data quality framework developed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, a world leader in the use of administrative data for research purposes, and provide examples and context for the application of these dimensions to conducting data quality evaluations. In sharing this framework, our ultimate aim is to promote best practices in rigorous data quality assessment among users of administrative data for research.

Association of the Social Determinants of Health With Quality of Primary Care

“…[16][17][18][19] A detailed description of the data quality assessment and linkage procedures at MCHP is available elsewhere. 20,21…”

“…Although data collected for administrative purposes are not always research ready, the data in MCHP's repository undergo rigorous quality assessment to minimize biases related to misclassification or missing data. 20 In jurisdictions where administrative data repositories lack the breadth and depth needed for holistic analyses of social determinants, using geospatial technologies to link neighborhood-level socioeconomic data (eg, census data) to patient addresses in electronic medical records may prove valuable. 46,47 Limitations Despite the many strengths of this study and the administrative data on which it is based, there are some limitations that must be acknowledged.…”

Population Data Centre Profile: The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy

“…MCHP follows a data quality framework providing a comprehensive and consistent evaluation of every database and update received [17,18]. Assessing data quality is particularly important for secondary use of information, as MCHP rarely has control over the data collection and maintenance processes.…”

Hip fracture care in Manitoba, Canada and New York State, United States: an analysis of administrative data

“…Manitoba data have been extensively audited, validated and used for prior health services research studies. 21 The Population Research Data Repository contains multiple Manitoba Centre for Health Policy administrative health databases, which include information about virtually all hospital admissions, physician visits and postacute care paid for by the provincial health insurance plan. Additional files include the population registry, which captures information on dates of health insurance coverage (including cessation of coverage owing to death and out-of-province migration), demographic characteristics and geographic information.…”