The EpiLink record linkage software - Presentation and results of linkage test on cancer registry files

作     者：Contiero, P Tittarelli, A Tagliabue, G Maghini, A Fabiano, S Crosignani, P Tessandori, R 

作者机构：Ist Nazl Studio & Cura Tumori Canc Registry Div I-20133 Milan Italy Azienda Sanit Locale Prov Sondrio Sondrio Italy 

出 版 物：《METHODS OF INFORMATION IN MEDICINE》 (Methods Inf. Med.)

年 卷 期：2005年第44卷第1期

页      面：66-71页

核心收录：

学科分类：1204[管理学-公共管理] 1001[医学-基础医学(可授医学、理学学位)] 0812[工学-计算机科学与技术（可授工学、理学学位）] 10[医学] 

主　　题：cancer registry record linkage computer program follow-up methods 

摘      要：Objectives: Record linkage, the process of bringing together separately compiled but related records from different databases, is essential in many area s of biomedical research. We developed a, record linkage program (EpiLink), which employs a simple mathematical approach. We describe the program and present results obtained testing it in a linkage task. Methods: EpiLink was designed to be flexible with user-friendly settings to tailor linkage and operating parameters to specific linkage tasks, and employ deterministic, probabilistic or sequential deterministic-probabilistic linkage strategies as required. The user con also standardize data format, examine linkage results and accept of discard them. We used EpiLink to link a subset of cases of the Lombardy Cancer Registry (20,724 records) with the Social Security file of the population (1,021,846 records) covered by the registry. I The linkage strategy was deterministic, followed by several probabilistic linkage steps. Results: Manual inspection of the-results showed that EpiLink achieved 98.8% specificity and 96.5% sensitivity. Conclusions. EpiLink is a practical and accurate means of linking records from different databases that con be used by non-statisticians and is efficient in terms of human and financial resources.