Microdata Release Policy National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

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Microdata Release PolicyNational Health
Interview Survey (NHIS)
Eve Powell-Griner National Center for Health
Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention National Center for Health Statistics
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Microdata

• A data file in which each record provides
  information at the unit level of data collection,
  including
• Individual persons
• Households
• Family
• Events

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NHIS Policy

• Consistent with policies of the Centers for
  Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
  National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
• Guiding principle of making high quality data
  available
• As widely as practicable
• As soon as possible after data collection
• In as much detail as possible
• While honoring statements in informed consent
  documents of survey participants
• And adhering to statutory confidentiality
  restrictions (42 U.S.C. 242m(d).

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Public Use Microdata Files

• Contain no personal identifier or
  confidential information
• Available to everyone
• Current file released in December of year
  following data collection
• Releases available on NCHS Internet

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NHIS Non-Public Microdata

• Contain information which may pose risk of
  identification of respondent(s)
• Detailed information on race, geographic area,
  occupation, etc.
• Unusual characteristics of respondent
• Access strictly limited

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Access to Nonpublic Microdata

• Special use agreement required
• Access dependent upon
• Compliance with statutory restrictions 42 U.S.C.
  242m(d)
• Respondent informed consent permits proposed use
• Demonstrated need for access
• Ability to provide adequate safeguards

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Four Mechanisms for Access to Nonpublic Use
Microdata files

• NHIS/Collaborator Quality Assurance Agreements
• NHIS Data Support Agreements
• NHIS Special Use Data Agreements
• NCHS Research Data Center Agreements

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NHIS/Collaborator Quality Assurance Agreements

• Initiated by NHIS
• Only between NHIS and collaborators with a signed
  inter-agency funding agreement
• Only for purposes of assessing data quality
• Access to partial file, not full microdata file

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NHIS Data Support Agreements

• Require signed agreement to assist in data
  collection or processing
• Initiated by the NHIS program
• Restricted to funding partners

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NHIS Collaborator

• Formal working relationship
• Relationship begins at start of survey (planning
  and design stage)
• Requires formal, legal agreements
• Usually another federal agency
• Informed consent documents must permit
  collaboration
• NOT A MEANS OF EARLY ACCESS TO FILES

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NHIS Special Use Data Agreements

• Occurs under special circumstances
• Limited non-public data access
• Requires Memorandum of Understanding,
  Inter-Agency Agreement or other instrument
• Usually federal/state agency, other organization
• Access not to exceed one calendar year
• NOT A MEANS OF EARLY ACCESS TO DATA

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Research Data Center

• Provides a mechanism for researchers to access
• Data not released to the public because of
  nondisclosure or confidentiality reasons
• Small area or micro data
• Merges to other data files
• Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis

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NCHS Research Data Center (RDC)

• Access occurs within NCHS, often by NCHS or
  approved staff
• Non-NCHS researcher submits research proposal to
  RDC
• All approved research must have funding to pay
  for costs of research

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Important Internet Web Sites for Policy
Information

• The CDC/ATSDR policy on releasing and sharing
  data may be accessed at www.cdc.gov/od/foia/polici
  es/sharing.htm
• the NCHS data release policy may be accessed at
  www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/policy/reldata.htm

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NCHS Data Research Center

• Information on submission of a research proposal
  to the RDC available at http//www.cdc.gov/nchs/r
  d/rdc.htm