van Buuren S, Eyres S, Tennant A, Hopman-Rock M
TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Eur J Public Health. 2003 Sep;13(3 Suppl):15-9. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/13.suppl_1.15.
Comparability of health data is a major challenge within the context of the Health Monitoring Programme of the European Commission. A common problem in surveys is that many variations of essentially the same question exist.
Response conversion is a new method for improving comparability by scaling the data onto a common scale. Comparisons between member states can then be made in terms of the common scale. A first step is the construction of a conversion key. This is a relatively complex activity, but needs to be done only once. The second step is the actual data transformation. This is simple, and can be repeatedly done on a routine basis as new information arrives. Construction of the key is only possible if enough overlapping information can be found.
The method is illustrated for dressing disability from five European countries. Differences occur between countries, between sexes and between age groups. These were similar in magnitude.
Response conversion is a new method for enhancing comparability among existing data. Conversion can only be done if a key is available. More work is needed to establish the technique. Future implications within the Health Monitoring Programme are discussed.
在欧盟委员会健康监测计划的背景下，健康数据的可比性是一项重大挑战。调查中的一个常见问题是，本质上相同的问题存在许多变体。
响应转换是一种通过将数据缩放到共同尺度来提高可比性的新方法。然后可以根据共同尺度对成员国之间进行比较。第一步是构建转换键。这是一项相对复杂的活动，但只需要进行一次。第二步是实际的数据转换。这很简单，并且随着新信息的到来可以定期重复进行。只有在能够找到足够的重叠信息时，才能构建转换键。
以五个欧洲国家的着装残疾情况为例说明了该方法。国家之间、性别之间和年龄组之间存在差异。这些差异在程度上相似。
响应转换是一种增强现有数据可比性的新方法。只有在有转换键的情况下才能进行转换。需要开展更多工作来确立该技术。讨论了其在健康监测计划中的未来影响。
