Evaluating a Perinatal Network Using Discharge Data
Author Information
Author(s): Catherine Quantin, Béatrice Gouyon, Paul Avillach, Cyril Ferdynus, Paul Sagot, Jean-Bernard Gouyon
Primary Institution: INSERM, UMR 866, University of Burgundy
Hypothesis
How effective is the linkage procedure of anonymous data in assessing the Burgundy perinatal network?
Conclusion
The study demonstrated that all mothers and newborns were successfully linked in the regional database, achieving a high data completeness rate.
Supporting Evidence
- The linkage procedure allowed for 99.9% of newborns to have gestational age data.
- The study showed a significant improvement in data completeness over time.
- Errors in linkage were primarily due to missing data on identification items.
Takeaway
The researchers looked at how well they could connect information about mothers and their babies using hospital records, and they found they could do it almost perfectly.
Methodology
Data from discharge abstracts for mothers and newborns were collected and linked using a specific procedure to assess the performance of the Burgundy perinatal network.
Potential Biases
There may be risks of bias due to reliance on voluntary data reporting from hospitals and potential discrepancies in data entry.
Limitations
The study faced challenges with data completeness and potential errors in linkage due to missing or incorrect identification items.
Participant Demographics
The study included data from 18 hospitals in Burgundy, covering approximately 18,500 births annually.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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