Cea Soriano Lucía, Wallander Mari-Ann, Andersson Susan W, Requena Gema, García-Rodríguez Luis A
* Spanish Centre for Pharmacoepidemiological Research (CEIFE) , Madrid , Spain.
Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2014 Feb;19(1):22-8. doi: 10.3109/13625187.2013.852170. Epub 2013 Nov 14.
OBJECTIVES To develop and validate algorithms to identify new users of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) in a primary care database, The Health Improvement Network (THIN). METHODS Women in THIN aged 12 to 49 years in 2005 were studied. THIN was searched using Read and MULTILEX codes to identify new users of copper intrauterine devices (Cu-IUDs), the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and progestogen-only implants. Validation was undertaken for a randomly selected sample of 398 LARC users, in which their primary care physicians were asked to complete a questionnaire detailing LARC use. RESULTS Questionnaires were received for 379 patients (95%), confirming 316 (83%) as new LARC users. Confirmation rates for Cu-IUDs, the LNG-IUS and progestogen-only implants were 64%, 94% and 89%, respectively. The use of Read codes alone had the lowest confirmation rate, particularly for Cu-IUD users. Confirmation rates increased by using MULTILEX codes when available, or by examination of computerised medical records. CONCLUSIONS Computer algorithms were used to identify new LARC users. While THIN is a useful resource for studying LARC uptake, steps to gather additional information are necessary to ensure the validity of LARC classification.
在初级保健数据库“健康改善网络”（THIN）中开发并验证用于识别长效可逆避孕方法（LARC）新使用者的算法。方法：对2005年THIN数据库中年龄在12至49岁的女性进行研究。使用Read编码和MULTILEX编码在THIN中进行检索，以识别铜宫内节育器（Cu-IUD）、左炔诺孕酮宫内缓释系统（LNG-IUS）和仅含孕激素的植入剂的新使用者。对随机抽取的398名LARC使用者样本进行验证，要求他们的初级保健医生填写一份详细说明LARC使用情况的问卷。结果：收到了379名患者（95%）的问卷，确认其中316名（83%）为LARC新使用者。Cu-IUD、LNG-IUS和仅含孕激素的植入剂的确认率分别为64%、94%和89%。仅使用Read编码的确认率最低，尤其是对于Cu-IUD使用者来说。在有MULTILEX编码可用时使用该编码，或通过检查电子病历，确认率会提高。结论：使用计算机算法识别LARC新使用者。虽然THIN是研究LARC使用情况的有用资源，但需要采取措施收集更多信息，以确保LARC分类的有效性。
