FEATURE BETTER KNOWLEDGE BETTER SOCIETY
INKING DATA OFFERS endless opportunities to research areas of interest that may not have been previously possible. Government departments and agencies hold large amounts of data on the population, collected during their day-to-day activities, routinely gathering information which can include social security payment records, educational attainment records, health records, court records, and tax records. Linking together these multiple sources of existing data that relate to a particular individual, a geographical location or an event, brings a new dimension to research. Data linkage is a way of harnessing this valuable resource by intelligently combining anonymised data for research. Researchers use existing collections of extensive data that have been routinely collected and stored securely to identify patterns across entire populations, to give a much broader picture and an in-depth and accurate picture of society. Previously unnoticed relationships can be identified, giving greater depth of clarity and understanding that wouldn’t otherwise be possible from analysis using a single source of data alone.
Fuel Poverty Health Data Linking report New research in Wales which uses secure,
anonymous data from the Department of Work and Pensions, from the NHS, as well as a range of other data, shows the significant impacts and public benefits of data linkage research.
The research project is supported jointly
by the ESRC and the Welsh Government. The overall aim is to use linked datasets accessed via the Administrative Data Research Centre Wales (ADRC-W) to evaluate the health and broader wellbeing impacts of Welsh Government-funded schemes to improve energy efficiency in the homes of low-income households. The report, published in the Fuel Poverty
Health Data Linking report, presents initial findings of an analysis of administrative data for the Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest Scheme. The administrative data was anonymously and securely linked to routine health records to examine the health service use of recipients of home energy efficiency measures. The results of the study show a significant
positive effect on respiratory health for recipients of Warm Homes Nest measures. The research found that for people with a recorded GP event for respiratory illness, the average number of events fell by almost 4% for those who had benefited from Nest improvements, while they rose by almost 10% in the control group over the same period.
18 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2017
Better knowledge better society L
Right: The
Administrative Data Research Centre Wales is led by Swansea University in partnership with Cardiff University; Below: The research shows a significant positive effect on respiratory health for recipients of Warm Homes Nest measures
Linking together multiple sources of existing data brings a new dimension to research. It can have significant impact by evaluating the effectiveness of existing policies and services, and influencing future government policy to improve health and wellbeing of populations
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