A pilot study was undertaken in the Hunter region of Australia during 1985-86 to determine feasibility, benefits and costs of alternate databases to be used for analysis of the medical outcomes of road traffic crashes. Results are reported for the most cost-effective option, the linking of existing, routinely collected data from two different sources: police traffic crash records and the discharge summaries for hospital in-patients. The method of linking these files in the absence of unique personal identifiers, names or addresses is described. The effectiveness of the method is evaluated with the aid of results from another option, accessing data from the hospital medical records.
Type: Research and Analysis Report
Sub Type: Consultant Report
Author(s): Hunter Health Statistics Unit
Topics: Injury, Methodology
Publication Date: 01/12/86