Methods Inf Med 1979; 18(02): 89-97
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1636455
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Accuracies of Computer versus Manual Linkages of Routine Health Records

GENAUIGKEIT DES COMPUTER-LINKAGE IM VERGLEICH ZUM MANUELLEN LINKAGE BEI PATIENTENUNTERLAGEN
Martha E. Smith
1   From the Biology and Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
,
H. B. Newcombe
1   From the Biology and Health Physics Division, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
15 February 2018 (online)

Empirical tests of the application of computer record linkage methods versus the use of routine clerical searching, for bringing together various vital and ill-health records, have shown that the success rate for the computer operation was higher (98.3 versus 96.7 per cent) and the proportion of false linkages very much lower (0.1 versus 2.3 per cent). The rate at which the ill-health records were processed by the computer was approximately 14,000 per minute of central processor time, representing a cost of a half a cent apiece.

Factors affecting the speed, accuracy and cost of computerized record linkage are discussed.

Empirische Versuche mit der Anwendung von Computer-Methoden im Vergleich zu konventionellen manuellen Methoden zum Record Linkage von standesamtlichen und Krankenhausurkunden haben gezeigt, daß die Erfolgsquote bei Computeranwendung höher (98,3 im Vergleich zu 96,7%) und der Anteil an falschen Zuordnungen viel niedriger (0,1 imVergleich zu 2,3%) war. Die Verarbeitungsrate der Krankenhausunterlagen durch den Computer betrug rund 14000 Unterlagen pro 1 Minute Zentral – rechnerzeit, was Kosten von einem halben Cent pro Stück bedeutet.

Faktoren, die sich auf Geschwindigkeit, Genauigkeit und Kosten beim automatisierten Record Linkage auswirken, werden erörtert.

 
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