1. Validation and Quality Assessment of Data
Database level analysis involves the evaluation of:
Accuracy
Completeness
Correctness
Internal Validity
Internal Consistency
Stability across time
Cross-Walk linkage
External Validity
Identifying units of analysis
Level of agreement with the literature and available reports
Timeliness
Delay in release of information
Each new database that is added to the MCHP Repository is assessed for data validity and quality. The results of an automated SAS based analysis are documented in a Data Quality Report.
Completeness: Are there missing values?
Correctness: Are there invalid codes or dates, or out of range values?
Consistency: Do the data make sense?
Stability: Are the data comparable over time?
Cross-Walk linkage: Can two or more tables be linked using common keys?
Linkage Quality: Although the addition of scrambled PHIN is done by Manitoba Health each cross walk file contains information on how the linkage was completed and the ‘goodness’ of the link.
Referential integrity: If the data tables are part of a relational design are the identified primary and foreign keys appropriately defined and consistent.