Analysis of Linked Health Data
This short course is designed for health services researchers, clinical practitioners and managers, and introduces them to linked data analysis at an introductory to intermediate level.
Gain an understanding of the theory and skills needed to analyse linked health data. The modular structure of the course provides participants with a theoretical grounding on each theme, followed by hands-on practical exercises each day using de-identified linked data files.
Please note that the short course will only run in June this year. It will not run in November 2023.
Course details
- Introduction to data linkage and its history
- Description of the Centre for Health Record Linkage (CHeReL) and how record linkage works
- Quality of data linkage
- Ethics, data security, applying to CHeReL for data
- Types of population health databases
- ICD coding
- Constructing study populations
- Data wrangling to construct dataset(s) that can be used for statistical analysis
- Measures of health care utilisation, health care episodes, and inter-hospital transfers
- Data quality I: Preparing data for analysis
- Data quality II: Accuracy and reliability of data sources
- Measures of health care outcomes: treatment outcomes and adverse events
- Introduction to survival analysis and Cox regression
- Covariates for risk adjustment: sociodemographic, illness severity, and comorbidity
On completion of this short course participants will be able to:
- understand the theory of data linkage methods and features of comprehensive data linkage systems, sufficient to know the sources and limitations of linked health data sets, and in particular those for New South Wales;
- apply epidemiological principles to the design of studies using linked data;
- construct numerators and denominators for the analysis of disease trends and health care utilisation and outcomes;
- assess the accuracy and reliability of data sources;
- check data linkages and assure the quality of the study process, e.g. consistency of definitions, missing data;
- list the issues to be considered when analysing large linked data files;
- utilise data wrangling techniques to prepare linked data files for analysis, derive exposure and outcome variables, relate numerators and denominators and produce results from statistical procedures.
The course is suitable for people with no previous experience in the analysis of linked health data. However, it does assume familiarity with introductory statistical and epidemiological methods, as taught, for example, in a Master of Public Health degree course.
The course also assumes basic programming skills in either SAS or R.
Academic, research, and professional staff from the following organisations contribute to the delivery of this short course:
Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Centre for Health Record Linkage (CHeReL)
Health Information Management Consultant
Women and Babies Research, Kolling Institute
Important: This short course is a variant of the unit of study, Analysis of Linked Health Data (PUBH5215). It enables you to complete the unit without formal university enrolment or assessment requirements. You will receive a certificate of completion, however, you will not receive credit points towards a University of Sydney degree.
To receive credit points and an academic transcript:
- enrol via Sydney Student, if you are a current Postgraduate student at the University of Sydney
- enrol via Medicine Postgraduate Non Award if you are not a current Postgraduate student at the University of Sydney.
| Key information | |
|---|---|
| Course fees | Individuals/Small groups (up to 4 students) Large groups (5+ students) |
| Delivery/location | This is a hybrid workshop, and consists of pre-recorded and live lectures and live practical sessions. Live sessions can be attended in person on Camperdown campus or via videoconferencing (Zoom). |
| Dates | June 2023 session: Block 1 Tuesday June 13th 9:00am-5:30pm Wednesday June 14th 9:00am-5:30pm Thursday June 15th 9:00am-5:30pm
Tuesday June 20th 9:00am-5:30pm |
| Application deadline |
June 2023 session May 23rd 2023 |
How to apply
Complete the online application form
It will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.
Note for groups: Please ensure that each member of the group fills out a separate copy of the application form.
Payment
Payment type |
How to pay |
Credit Card |
Link to payment portal provided upon submitting application form |
Bpay |
Link to payment portal provided upon submitting application form |
Journal transfer (University of Sydney staff) |
Please arrange with your local Finance Officer |
What happens next?
Once payment has been processed:
You will receive an email confirming receipt of payment
2-3 weeks from the beginning of classes:
You will receive a welcome email from the Sydney School of Public Health Education Support team, containing your e-learning login details and orientation materials.
2 weeks from the beginning of classes:
You will be able to access the e-learning Canvas site for the course. The Unit of Study Coordinator will provide you with a list of the readings.
After completing the course:
Please contact the Sydney School of Public Health Education Support team (ssph.education-support@sydney.edu.au) to receive a copy of your Completion Certificate.
Cancellation
If you decide to cancel your enrolment, the following penalty will apply:
• Cancellation received before the start of classes: the full course fee will be refunded.
• Cancellation received on or after the first day of classes: no refund.
Cancellation must be made via email to the Sydney School of Public Health Education Support Team: ssph.education-support@sydney.edu.au
