Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Data Sources”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Homicide in the workplace in Ontario: occupations at risk and limitations of existing data sources.

This study has identified workplace homicides in Ontario from 1975 to 1985, described those at risk, and examined what existing data sources are most suitable for locating the occurrence of these events. Homicides were identified from two sources: the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Mortality Database (OMDB). Of the 84 homicides identified, 87% occurred among males; the average annual work-related homicide rate was 0.17 per 100,000 workers, with a male-to-female ratio of 5.2:1. The rates in males were about one-eighth of those reported in California and Texas. The highest rates occurred among policemen, gas station attendants, security guards, and taxi drivers, and in restaurants and in certain retail operations such as jewelry stores. These homicides represented about 4% of all traumatic workplace fatalities. Firearms were responsible for 56% of these homicides and the motive was robbery in 50%. The OMDB proved to be an awkward source from which to identify such deaths because there is no "injury-at-work" field on death certificates. Other existing sources of data were not able to locate work-related homicides. Guidelines to protect those at high risk of assault and homicide should be developed.

Adolescent

Obtaining access to data sources: an exploration of method, problems and possible solutions.

A method, route and problems relating to the gaining of access to research data or respondents is discussed. In seeking permission to gather data from patients and staff in Scottish psychiatric hospitals, using Flanagan's Critical Incident Technique, a number of problems were encountered, viz. (i) the varying admnistrative levels to which the first formal request for entry had to be made; (ii) the varying routes which had to be followed in order to gain permission, and (iii) the time taken to obtain access to data sources. The problems, their possible consequences, and a number of long and short term recommendations are made. If implemented, these may go some way toward minimizing the difficulties associated with gaining access to data sources. The long term recommendations, including improved nurse representation on existing research and ethical committees, are directed to those who shape and influence policies relating to research practice generally. The short term recommendations are directed to the nurse researcher who is seeking access to field sites, with a view to minimizing problems relating to this aspect of planning and carrying out research activity.

Confidentiality

An assessment of potential injury surveillance data sources in Alaska using an emerging problem: all-terrain vehicle-associated injuries.

Using injuries associated with three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles in Alaska as an example, the existing injury data bases were assessed for usefulness, cost, simplicity, acceptability, flexibility, sensitivity, specificity, representativeness, and timeliness. In this study strengths and weaknesses of existing data for all-terrain vehicles were identified and ways to improve data collection and linkages across data systems are suggested. Based on this evaluation, linked death certificates and medical examiner data provide an excellent mechanism for monitoring vehicle-related fatalities. Information sources for nonfatal and nonvehicle-related injuries require further development. Police records provide supplemental information, but they are limited to the events reported to police. Although other sources were explored, they added no advantage to the primary sources. Data processing, analysis, and dissemination--traditional responsibilities for public health and other governmental agencies--can transform these data sources into meaningful mechanisms to define injury trends and monitor injury-specific intervention strategies.

Alaska

Cancer occurrence in the elderly: agreement between three major data sources.

PURPOSE: To explore agreement on cancer occurrence and site among Medicare Part A, Massachusetts Cancer Registry, and death certificates. METHODS: We linked these data sources with the cohort of the population-based East Boston Senior Health Project, a component of the National Institute on Aging's Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly. The cohort consists of 905 subjects dying between January 1986 and December 1990. RESULTS: We detected the following agreements on cancer occurrence: hospitalization data and death certificates (kappa = 0.70), hospitalization and cancer registry data (kappa = 0.59), and cancer registry and death certificate data (kappa = 0.50). Measures of agreement changed little when the analyses were stratified by age, sex, calendar year and place of death, autopsy performance, cigarette smoking or alcohol consumption. Site-specific agreements were higher for colorectal and respiratory tract cancer compared to breast and prostate across all three comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: The results should assist epidemiologists to better understand the strengths and limitations of these data sources.

Aged

CD-ROM source data uploaded to the operating and storage devices of an IBM 3090 mainframe through a PC terminal.

A powerful method of processing MEDLINE and CINAHL source data uploaded to the IBM 3090 mainframe computer through an IBM/PC is described. Data are first downloaded from the CD-ROM's PC devices to floppy disks. These disks then are uploaded to the mainframe computer through an IBM/PC equipped with WordPerfect text editor and computer network connection (SONNGATE). Before downloading, keywords specifying the information to be accessed are typed at the FIND prompt of the CD-ROM station. The resulting abstracts are downloaded into a file called DOWNLOAD.DOC. The floppy disks containing the information are simply carried to an IBM/PC which has a terminal emulation (TELNET) connection to the university-wide computer network (SONNET) at the Ohio State University Academic Computing Services (OSU ACS). The WordPerfect (5.1) processes and saves the text into DOS format. Using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP, 130,000 bytes/s) of SONNET, the entire text containing the information obtained through the MEDLINE and CINAHL search is transferred to the remote mainframe computer for further processing. At this point, abstracts in the specified area are ready for immediate access and multiple retrieval by any PC having network switch or dial-in connection after the USER ID, PASSWORD and ACCOUNT NUMBER are specified by the user. The system provides the user an on-line, very powerful and quick method of searching for words specifying: diseases, agents, experimental methods, animals, authors, and journals in the research area downloaded. The user can also copy the TItles, AUthors and SOurce with optional parts of abstracts into papers under edition. This arrangement serves the special demands of a research laboratory by handling MEDLINE and CINAHL source data resulting after a search is performed with keywords specified for ongoing projects. Since the Ohio State University has a centrally founded mainframe system, the data upload, storage and mainframe operations are free.

CD-ROM

Fatal farm injuries: a five-year study utilizing a unique surveillance approach to investigate the concordance of reporting between two data sources.

The agricultural industry has been ranked among the most hazardous. Yet, it has been alleged that occupational injuries and fatalities are seriously underreported. Access to quality agricultural injury data poses a special problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the concordance of reporting of fatal agricultural injuries between death certificate data and the Newspaper Clipping Service data in the state of Minnesota, utilizing a surveillance system developed by the University of Minnesota. Between September 1, 1981, and August 31, 1986, a total of 350 agricultural fatalities were identified in Minnesota; 82% were identified through death certificate data and 67% through the Newspaper Clipping Service. Differences in reporting between the two data sources were noted for gender, age, injury type, anatomical site, source, mechanism of injury, and multiple versus single injury. If only death certificates had been utilized, 18% of the fatalities would have been missed. Although it is apparent that death certificate data have an advantage over the Newspaper Clipping Service data for fatality reporting of specific variables, this study revealed that death certificate surveillance alone will miss mortality data and detection of certain potential risk factors. Suggestions for improving surveillance of agricultural fatalities are identified. However, until relevant changes are made, it will be essential to use a combination of data sources that include the Newspaper Clipping Service to identify agricultural injury fatalities accurately.

Accidents, Occupational

Value of Food and Agriculture Organization data on food-balance sheets as a data source for dietary fat intake in epidemiologic studies.

The relationships between the per person supply (expressed as percent of total energy supply) of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) obtained from 1979-1981 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data, and the per person intake obtained from 52 individual dietary surveys performed in 19 countries, were examined. In particular, the ratio of PUFAs to SFAs (P:S) and the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs and PUFAs) to SFAs (U:S) obtained from both data sources were examined. Significant correlations (P less than 0.001) were found between the two data sources for the P:S, U:S, SFAs, and MUFAs and PUFAs (P less than 0.02) in 19 countries. It is concluded that the data on fat intake from the FAO are valid for use in epidemiologic studies. In view of the variability of the data, it is recommended to use them either expressed as percentage of energy or as ratios of the different components.

Diet Surveys

Estimating the economic costs of the abuse of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs: a review of methodologies and Canadian data sources.

The study of economic costs of substance abuse, namely, abuse of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs, can provide important information for setting good public health policies. This review paper provides a list of previous cost studies of substance abuse, compares the cost categories considered by various methodologies and describes an inventory of data sources for obtaining relevant information for cost studies. Investigators will find this paper useful as an introduction to the literature in this area, for designing a list of cost categories to consider in a particular study and for identifying relevant data sources.

Alcoholism

Data sources for accident modelling.

The value of modelling for the study of accidents and for devising and assessing methods of prevention depends on the reliability of data sources. Police statistics are commonly used for accidents which cause death or injury. Several studies, however, show their deficiencies particularly for injury accidents of pedestrians and pedal cyclists. Hospital records give better information on injuries and diagnostic classification by the ICD code can be usefully improved by inclusion of the "E" (circumstance) detail. Insurance data can provide another source which is likely to be best for accidents involving multiple vehicles and damage to the property of third parties. The special "no fault" compensation system in New Zealand gives an unusually full source of data suitable for statistical analysis of accidents.

Accidents, Traffic

Reliability of data sources for poisoning deaths in Massachusetts.

The authors analyzed poisoning-related deaths in Massachusetts from 1986 and 1987 recorded in three datasets: poison center records, death certificate, and state medical examiner's office records. While 714 such deaths were found, 551 of these were prehospital deaths recorded within the medical examiner's office but not by the poison center. The poison center was not consulted in over 47% of the poisoning deaths occurring in Massachusetts hospitals. Conversely, 15% of deaths were reported to the poison center but were not found either in death certificate or medical examiner records. Concordance between all three datasets for recording the 163 poisoning-related hospital deaths was only 17%. The authors conclude that reliance on a single data source underestimates and potentially misrepresents both the numbers and types of poisoning deaths occurring in the state. They also believe the files of the medical examiner are an underappreciated, rich source of data concerning out-of-hospital deaths due to poisonings and intoxications. Their findings suggest that the regional poison center is an underused resource for the management of seriously poisoned patients. There is a need for a better working relationship between poison centers and area hospitals so that all serious intoxications and poisonings are reported to the poison center in a timely fashion.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Occupational disease surveillance data sources, 1985.

Health department epidemiologists in 50 states, New York City, and the District of Columbia were surveyed in 1985 about seven potential data sources for occupational disease surveillance. Reported sources of occupational disease data were: automated workers' compensation claims (63 per cent of the 52 respondents); provider reports (62 per cent); death certificates with occupation or industry (60 per cent); cancer registries with occupational histories (35 per cent); birth certificates with parent's occupation (27 per cent); non-cancer disease registries (13 per cent); and hospital or insurance records (8 per cent).

Birth Certificates

The essentials of data sources in eye epidemiology.

The extensive literature on eye epidemiology was selectively reviewed to provide a concise and comprehensive summary on the current status of available data sources. The topics being covered were epidemiologic data evaluation, data handling, card registration, computer analysis, geographic factors, socio-economic conditions, personal attributes, genetic backgrounds, twin analysis and laboratory procedures for host defense factors including humoral and cellular immunity. Also, the scope of this article encompassed such major practical issues as glaucoma, cataract and other blinding diseases as well as traffic and occupational hazards. Epidemiologic information thus obtainable through data searching may prove tobe instrumental in the identification of any potential preventive measures in ophthalmology and public health.

Data Display

Data sources for aging research on racial and ethnic groups.

This article reports the results of a survey of recent and ongoing aging-related data sources supported by U.S. federal agencies. The survey sought to obtain data on the sample sizes and topics covered within the data sets maintained and frequently used by the various federal agencies engaged in data collection and/or analysis. The objective of the study was to determine the suitability of these data sets to conduct research on minority elders. Formal tests of the adequacy of data set sample sizes to support analysis on various minority groups were performed. Each data set was found to be large enough to conduct research on white elders, and a majority of the data sets were large enough for research on African American elders. However, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders were rarely included in sufficient numbers.

Aged

Data source automation: new technology for the management of patient-generated test results.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose is widely accepted by patients today, but its usefulness to clinicians has been seriously limited by our inability to interpret the patient-generated data. It is difficult or impossible to make optimal use of hand-kept diaries, no matter how compulsively kept. Patterns elude us, summaries are inaccurate, and large blocks of data are almost entirely ignored. To remedy these problems, data source automation--the automatic recording of data at their site of origin--is being applied to diabetes. Meters will measure blood glucose and memorize the result, date, and time of day. One system even allows the patient to record insulin dosage, exercise, and diet. The advantage of these systems lies in their potential for data management. Recognition of patterns of blood glucose concentration, easy longitudinal comparison of data, and aggregation of large data bases are all facilitated by computerized manipulation of the stored data. In-hospital use of glucose meters can have better documented quality control. It is possible to communicate data to physicians by telephone modem. Effective use of these systems, though, requires convenient software; and their acceptance in actual clinical practice must be demonstrated. But data management capabilities, as they are refined and brought into common use, could significantly improve diabetic management.

Autoanalysis

Linking multiple heterogeneous data sources to practice guidelines.

The BiliLIGHT system is a World Wide Web (Web) based system that integrates an interactive clinical practice guideline with real-time patient-data retrieval from remote heterogeneous data sources to help clinicians manage newborn jaundice at the point of care in three clinical settings. We briefly describe the system, how actual information exchange of medical data across institutional boundaries was achieved, and how the data were connected to a CPG. In particular, we examine the requirements for patient identification, exchange protocols, authentication, and a standard vocabulary.

Computer Systems

[Hierarchies according to the level of evidence of source data, before their integration in the synthesis, in the matter of therapeutic efficacy].

The discipline therapeutic information uses the concept of the level of evidence for source data concerning therapeutic efficacy, and its ordering before integration in syntheses. In this paper we will start by considering the problems raised by the definition of the level of evidence in terms of the dimensions it covers. We have differentiated three components: clinical pertinance of the question asked, the methods used to reply and the quality of the data collected. Second, we will examine the different criteria important for each of these three dimensions. There are many criteria possible which do not all have the same weight, and thus for any non-arbitrary tool developed to enable the level of evidence to be ordered, it is necessary to know the weight of the different criteria. Thirdly, we will present the techniques used for working with multicriteria situations in econometrics which represent a methodology we propose using to apply in our context. To do so we need to build a 'reference' base for the level of evidence using 'experts' opinions which will help us to examine the weights of the different criteria. This approach, in conjunction with some epistemological and sociological considerations, may contribute to a better understanding of the different dimensions of this concept.

Clinical Trials as Topic

Climatic data sources and limitations of ecological niche models impact the estimations of historical ranges and niche overlaps in distantly related Korean salamanders.

BACKGROUND: Ecological niche models (ENMs) and analyses of niche overlap/divergence have become popular methods in ecology and evolutionary biology. These analyses rely on environmental data available from several databases. However, the influence of data sources on these analyses is rarely tested. Here, we test the impact of climatic data choice on the prediction of current and Plio-Pleistocene suitable habitats for two distantly related, but broadly sympatric, salamanders endemic to the Korean Peninsula. We ran MaxEnt separately on WorldClim and CHELSA climate data. We then hindcasted ENMs to five time periods of the Plio-Pleistocene, bracketing the estimated intraspecific divergence times for these species. We then quantified the differences in predictions between WorldClim- and CHELSA-based models. Also, given the sympatry and similar habitat requirements of the two species, we tested for niche overlaps using niche identity and background tests and tested the sensitivity of the results to climatic data choice. RESULTS: The ENMs successfully predicted contemporary suitable habitats for the two species. However, the predictions were highly sensitive to climatic data choice as well as variable combinations. The hindcasted ENMs produced contrasting predictions depending on the choice of climatic dataset and failed to predict suitable habitats for some Pleistocene time periods regardless of the climatic data choice. The niche analyses were also sensitive to climatic data choice, with results suggesting either niche overlaps or divergence depending on the climatic dataset used for the analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the influence of climatic data choice on the outcomes of ENMs and niche analyses. Our results also underscore the limitations of macroclimate-based ENMs, especially when the species is likely buffered from macroclimatic changes by microhabitat. We argue for the need for additional ecological, ecophysiological, and population genomic studies to better understand the range formation of these enigmatic species.

Animals