Data in Public Health: Uses, Collection, and Importance of Vital Stats and Surveys, Study notes of Community Health

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Chapter 8

Role of Data in Public Health

NCHS

• (^) National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS)- Primary agency that collects, analyzes and reports health data.
• (^) Under the CDC
• (^) They also conduct periodic, representative population based studies

Collection of Data

• (^) Local records
  • (^) Birth certificates
  • (^) Death certificates
  • (^) Notifiable diseases
  • (^) Other vital statistics
• (^) Transmitted from local governments to states
• (^) Transmitted from states to National Center for Health Statistics (part of CDC)
• (^) Surveys

Vital Statistics

• (^) Births and deaths are the most reliable and complete data to be collected
• (^) State Health Dept collects and maintains reports and periodically sends to NCHS
• (^) Death certificates- inaccuracies, consistency, incomplete

The Census

• (^) Collected by the US Census Bureau every 10 years
• (^) Serves as denominator for calculating rates most public health data - (^) Age, sex, race specific rates

• (^) Every person must be enumerated and no statistical corrections can be made
• (^) Inaccuracies- over counting and undercounting
• (^) Race and Ethnic Groups- 2010 census an individual can identify more than one race

Surveys

1. National Health Interview Survey (NCHS survey)- interviews with a selection of households asking about illnesses, injuries, impairments, chronic conditions, utilization of medical resources etc. approx 35, persosn/yr 2. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NCHS survey)- direct physical, dental and lab measurements of a specified section of the population. approx 5,000 people per year

Accuracy and Availability of

Data

• (^) Data collection is imperfect
• (^) Census is most accurate; still there are overcounts and undercounts
• (^) Information technology increases accuracy and availability

Confidentiality of Data

• (^) Governments have safeguards to protect individual
• (^) Use of data may involve removal of identifying information on individuals
• (^) Use of data requires institutional review boards or data protection committees

Discussion Question 2

• (^) Of what value to public health is information gathered by the NHIS? NHANES? BRFSS?

Discussion Question 3

• (^) Visit the NCHS Web site ( www.cdc.gov/nchs/).
• (^) What surveys does NCHS conduct in addition to those described in this chapter?