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The utility of medico-legal databases for public health research: a systematic
review of peer-reviewed publications using the National Coronial Information
System
#MMPMID27067413
Bugeja L
; Ibrahim JE
; Ferrah N
; Murphy B
; Willoughby M
; Ranson D
Health Res Policy Syst
2016[Apr]; 14
(?): 28
PMID27067413
show ga
BACKGROUND: Medico-legal death investigations are a recognised data source for
public health endeavours and its accessibility has increased following the
development of electronic data systems. Despite time and cost savings, the
strengths and limitations of this method and impact on research findings remain
untested. This study examines this issue using the National Coronial Information
System (NCIS). METHODS: PubMed, ProQuest and Informit were searched to identify
publications where the NCIS was used as a data source for research published
during the period 2000-2014. A descriptive analysis was performed to describe the
frequency and characteristics of the publications identified. A content analysis
was performed to identify the nature and impact of strengths and limitations of
the NCIS as reported by researchers. RESULTS: Of the 106 publications included,
30 reported strengths and limitations, 37 reported limitations only, seven
reported strengths only and 32 reported neither. The impact of the reported
strengths of the NCIS was described in 14 publications, whilst 46 publications
discussed the impacts of limitations. The NCIS was reported to be a reliable
source of quality, detailed information with comprehensive coverage of deaths of
interest, making it a powerful injury surveillance tool. Despite these strengths,
researchers reported that open cases and missing information created the
potential for selection and reporting biases and may preclude the identification
and control of confounders. CONCLUSIONS: To ensure research results are valid and
inform health policy, it is essential to consider and seek to overcome the
limitations of data sources that may have an impact on results.
|*Public Health
[MESH]
|Biomedical Research/*methods
[MESH]
|Cause of Death
[MESH]
|Coroners and Medical Examiners/*statistics & numerical data
[MESH]
|Data Accuracy
[MESH]
|Databases, Factual/*statistics & numerical data
[MESH]
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