Download PDF
Methods Inf Med 1983; 22(02): 77-82
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1635423
Original Artical
Schattauer GmbH

An Operational Approach to Record Linkage

Ein Operationaler Ansatz Zum Record Linkage
M. P. Mi
1   (From the Department of Genetics and Cancer Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.)
,
J. T. Kagawa
1   (From the Department of Genetics and Cancer Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.)
,
M. E. Earle
1   (From the Department of Genetics and Cancer Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.)
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 February 2018 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

An operational approach to computerized record linkage has been developed based on the concept of probability of chance match in two groups of records brought together for comparison. Tolerance levels can be readily derived from these records for decision-making in accepting or rejecting a linked pair. This approach is especially suitable for iteration when linked pairs are removed in successive cycles. An application of linkage for death clearance of the 1942 resident population of 437,967 registered in Hawaii during a 38-year period from 1942 to 1979 is presented. The reliability of linkage and rate of failure were analyzed.

Ein operationaler Ansatz zum automatisierten Record Linkage wurde entwickelt basierend auf dem Begriff der Wahrscheinlichkeit einer zufälligen Übereinstimmung in den beiden zwecks Vergleich zusammengebrachten Gruppen. Die Toleranzgrenzen bei der Entscheidungsfindung, ob ein verbundenes Paar angenommen oder abgelehnt werden soll, können aus diesen Unterlagen leicht abgeleitet werden. Dieser Ansatz ist besonders geeignet für Iterationen, wenn verbundene Paare in sukzessiven Zyklen eliminiert werden. Eine Anwendung der Linkage-Technik zur Untersuchung der Absterbeordnung von 437967 1942 in Hawaii registrierten Personen während eines 38-Jahres-Berichtszeitraums von 1942 bis 1979 wird dargestellt. Die Zuverlässigkeit und die Fehlerrate werden analysiert.

Key-Words

Record Linkage - Computer Search - Linkage Reliability

Schlüssel-Wörter

Record Linkage - Computersuche - Zuverlässigkeit des Linkage
 

  • References

  • 1 Acheson E. D.. (Edit.) Record Linkage in Medicine. (Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Co 1968
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Dubois Jr. N. S. D.. A Document Linkage Program for Digital Computers. Behav. Sci 1965; 10: 312-319.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Dubois Jr. N. S. D.. A Solution to the Problem of Linking Multivariate Documents. J. Amer. stat. Ass 1969; 64: 163-174.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Dunn H. L.. Record Linkage. Amer. J. publ. Hlth 1946; 36: 1412-1416.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Fellagi I. P., Sunter A. B.. A Theory for Record Linkage. J. Amer. stat. Ass 1969; 64: 1183-1210.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Howe G. R., Lindsay J.. A Generalized Record Linkage Computer System for Use in Medical Follow-up Studies. Comp. biomed. Res 1982; 15: 327-340.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 MI M. P.. Record Linkage and Other Genetic Studies in Hawaii. In Crow J. A., Neel J. V.. (Eds) Proc. III. Intern. Cong. Hum. Genet pp 489-496 Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press 1967;
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 MI M. P., Budy A. M., Kagawa J. T.. The Hawaii Population Data Base. (In preparation)
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Nathan G.. Outcome Probabilities for a Record Matching Process with Complete Invariant Information. J. Amer. stat. Ass 1967; 62: 454-469.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Netcombe N. B., Kennedy J. M., Oxford S. J., James A. P.. Automatic Linkage of Vital Records. Science 1959; 130: 954-959.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Nitzberg D. M., Sardy H.. The Methodology of Computer Linkage of Health and Vital Records. Proc. Amer. stat. Ass., Soc. Stat. Sec 1965; 100-106.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Tepping B. J.. A Model for Optimum Linkage of Records. J. Amer. stat. Ass 1968; 63: 1321-1332.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Wrigley E. A.. (Edit.) Identifying People in the Past. London: Edward Arnold 1973
    PubMedGoogle Scholar