Improving and Maintaining Quality in Ethnicity Data Collections in the Health and Disability Sector

Published online: 
02 December 2010

Summary

High quality ethnicity data has been an ongoing concern for the health and disability sector in New Zealand. While ethnicity data has been collected for a number of years, there have been variable levels of data completeness and quality. In addition, approaches to data collection across the sector have not always been co-ordinated or standardised.

In recent years, a number of initiatives and activities have been undertaken to improve the quality of ethnicity data in health sector datasets, including the development of the ethnicity data protocols for the health and disability sector (Ministry of Health 2004). In spite of progress, however, challenges remain in relation to both the quality and completeness of ethnicity data.

This paper considers what is currently known about the state of ethnicity data across the health and disability sector. It also describes key activities to improve and maintain ethnicity data in the health system in New Zealand, and identifies barriers and facilitators to the collection of ethnicity data and the maintenance of high quality datasets. It aims to summarise key issues in order to support data collection policies and practices going forward.

Publishing information

  • Date of publication:
    02 December 2010
  • Hardcopy date of publication:
    02 December 2010
  • ISBN:
    978-0-9864682-5-4 (Online)
  • Citation:
    Cormack D & McLeod M. 2010. Improving and Maintaining Quality in Ethnicity Data Collection: Issues for the Health and Disability Sector. Wellington: Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare.
  • Ordering information:
    Only soft copy available to download
  • Copyright status:

    Third-party content. Please check the document or email the Web Manager to find out how to obtain permission to re-use content.

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