TY - JOUR
T1 - Ethnic minorities and prescription medication; concordance between self-reports and medical records
AU - Uiters, Ellen
AU - Dijk, Liset van
AU - Devillé, Walter
AU - Foets, Marleen
AU - Spreeuwenberg, Peter
AU - Groenewegen, Peter P.
N1 - Relation: http://www.rug.nl/
date_submitted:2008
Rights: University of Groningen
PY - 2006/9/13
Y1 - 2006/9/13
N2 - Background:
Ethnic differences in health care utilisation are frequently reported in research.
Little is known about the concordance between different methods of data collection among ethnic minorities. The aim of this study was to examine to which extent ethnic differences between selfreported data and data based on electronic medical records (EMR) from general practitioners (GPs) might be a validity issue or reflect a lower compliance among minority groups.
Methods:
A cross-sectional, national representative general practice study, using EMR data from 195 GPs. The study population consisted of Dutch, Turks, Surinamese, Antilleans and Morrocans. Self-reported data were collected through face-to-face interviews and could be linked to the EMR of GPs. The main outcome measures were the level of agreement between annual prescribing rate based on the EMRs of GPs and the self-reported receipt and use of prescriptions during the preceding 14 days.
Results:
The pattern of ethnic differences in receipt and use of prescription medication depended on whether self-reported data or EMR data were used. Ethnic differences based on self-reports were not consistently reflected in EMR data. The percentage of agreement above chance between EMR data and self-reported receipt was in general relative low.
Conclusion:
Ethnic differences between self-reported data and EMR data might not be fully
perceived as a cross-cultural validity issue. At least for Moroccans and Turks, compliance with the prescribed medication by the GP is suggested not to be optimal.
AB - Background:
Ethnic differences in health care utilisation are frequently reported in research.
Little is known about the concordance between different methods of data collection among ethnic minorities. The aim of this study was to examine to which extent ethnic differences between selfreported data and data based on electronic medical records (EMR) from general practitioners (GPs) might be a validity issue or reflect a lower compliance among minority groups.
Methods:
A cross-sectional, national representative general practice study, using EMR data from 195 GPs. The study population consisted of Dutch, Turks, Surinamese, Antilleans and Morrocans. Self-reported data were collected through face-to-face interviews and could be linked to the EMR of GPs. The main outcome measures were the level of agreement between annual prescribing rate based on the EMRs of GPs and the self-reported receipt and use of prescriptions during the preceding 14 days.
Results:
The pattern of ethnic differences in receipt and use of prescription medication depended on whether self-reported data or EMR data were used. Ethnic differences based on self-reports were not consistently reflected in EMR data. The percentage of agreement above chance between EMR data and self-reported receipt was in general relative low.
Conclusion:
Ethnic differences between self-reported data and EMR data might not be fully
perceived as a cross-cultural validity issue. At least for Moroccans and Turks, compliance with the prescribed medication by the GP is suggested not to be optimal.
U2 - 10.1186/1472-6963-6-115
DO - 10.1186/1472-6963-6-115
M3 - Article
VL - 6
JO - BMC Health Services Research
JF - BMC Health Services Research
SN - 1472-6963
M1 - 115
ER -