Question

Present the most important criteria for assessing the quality and utility of epidemiologic data? Explain why these criteria are so important. Your response must be at least 200-400 words in length.

Answer 1

Solution:

Criteria for the Quality and Utility of Epidemiologic Data :
• Nature of the data
• Availability of the data
• Completeness of population coverage
- Representativeness (extetnal validity)
- Thoroughness
• Value and limitations
• See exhibit 5-1, p. 208-209

Nature of the Data
• Refers to the source of data, e.g., vital statistics, case registries, physicians' records, surveys of the general population, or hospital and clinic cases.
• Will affect the types of statistical analyses and inferences that are possible.

Availability of the Data
• Refers to investigator's access to data.
• For example, medical records and other data with personal identifiers may not be used without patients' consent.

Representativeness and Thoroughness
• Representativeness (external volidity) generahzabllity of findings to the population from which the data have been taken.
• Thoroughness--the extent to which all cases of a health phenomenon have been identified.

Value and Limitations
• The utility of the data for various types of epidemiologic research.
• Factors Inherent in the data may limit their usefulness.
— Incomplete diagnostic information.
— Case duplication.