In:
Australian Health Review, CSIRO Publishing, Vol. 32, No. 4 ( 2008), p. 766-
Abstract:
Objectives: The report describes the strategic
design, steps to full implementation and outcomes achieved by the Western Australian Data Linkage
System (WADLS), instigated in 1995 to link up to 40 years of data from over 30 collections for an
historical population of 3.7 million. Staged development has seen its expansion, initially from a
linkage key to local health data sets, to encompass links to national and local health and welfare
data sets, genealogical links and spatial references for mapping applications.
Applications: The WADLS has supported over 400 studies with over 250 journal publications and
35 graduate research degrees. Applications have occurred in health services utilisation and outcomes,
aetiologic research, disease surveillance and needs analysis, and in methodologic
research. Benefits: Longitudinal studies have become
cheaper and more complete; deletion of duplicate records and correction of data artifacts have
enhanced the quality of information assets; data linkage has conserved patient privacy; community
machinery necessary for organised responses to health and social problems has been exercised;
and the commercial return on research infrastructure investment has exceeded 1000%. Most
importantly, there have been unbiased contributions to medical knowledge and identifiable
advances in population health arising from the research.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0156-5788
Language:
English
Publisher:
CSIRO Publishing
Publication Date:
2008
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2082451-8
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