1. Scouting for Health Data
Advancing the Frontiers of Social Science: Opportunities and Challenges
Jani Little, Executive Director
Katie Genadek, Expected Administrator
Scouting for Health Data
Jani Little
The Rocky Mountain Federal Statistical Research Data Center
(RMRDC)
Jani Little
Executive Director

2. Finding Example Projects, online sources
• NCHS Publications - The NCHS RDC website provides a list of all publications that have come out of NCHS projects conducted in the RDC by dataset –
• Abstracts of Approved NCHS Projects—These have been extracted from Annual Reports of CES and RDC activities –
center/proposals
Good search terms “pollution” “oil”

3. Finding Example Projects using the FSRDC Network
•Contact your Administrator—Katie Genadek or RMRDC Director—Jani Little • We can tap into current projects that are in process throughout the system using inter-FSRDC channels
Good search terms “pollution” “oil”

4. Some major health data sources:
Survey data
NHANES
NHIS
NSCH
AHRQ Survey data
MEPS-HC
Health Care Survey data
NAMCSs
NHDS
Administrative data
Vital Records
Linked Data
Mortality Data Products
Medicare Enrollment and Claims Data
Medicaid Enrollment and Claims Data
Social Security Benefit History Data

5. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
Provides prevalence data on selected diseases and risk factors of U.S. Population
Monitors trends in diseases, behaviors, and environmental exposures
Identifies emerging public health concerns
Provides national baseline information on health and nutrition

6. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2014
Nationally probability sample, approx. 10,000
Data collection from Mobile unit
Interview—acculturation, air quality, allergies, demographics, diet, cognitive functioning, physical activity, sleep disorder, smoking, social support, weight history, family background, food security,
alcohol use, bowel health, overall health, depression screening, pesticide exposure, reproductive health, exposure to chemicals, drug use, sexual behavior, etc
Physical exam — hearing, body measurements, balance, blood pressure, vision, heart, etc
Lab testing —blood, urine, oral rinse, etc

7. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Restricted Data
Identifies geography below national level down to Census block
Youth -- Alcohol and Drug Use, ADHD, STDs, Mental Health Disorders, Depression, Sexual Behavior

8. Comparing Diet Quality, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior in Youth with and without ADHD
Researcher: Carol Curtin - University of Massachusetts Medical School
Restricted National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES)
Includes youth, ages 8-15, with and without ADHD
Anthropometric, dietary and activity measures include detailed family structure categories
ADHD and other behavioral health conditions assess using gold standard diagnostic

9. Racial Disparities in Exposure to Toxic Heavy Metals
Justin Colacino, Kelly Ferguson, Shama Virani—University of Michigan
Restricted National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES)
Heavy metals lab score includes cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic.
Non-Hispanic blacks significantly more likely across all age groups.

10. National Survey of Children’s Health
National telephone survey of households with at least 1 child,
N= 91,642
Demographics, Health and Functioning, Home Environment,
Early Childhood Care, Developmental Screening,
Adolescent School, Exercise, Emotional Difficulties
Family Functioning and Parental Health
Neighborhood and Community
All variables restricted
County and zip code geography available

11. Complex Families, State Family Policies, and Child Health Disparities
Researchers: Justin Denney, Rachel Kimbro, Christine Percheski, Maria Perez-Patron
Restricted National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH),
includes detailed family structure categories
Detailed child health assessments
Linked with public data of state-level family and welfare policy variables

12. National Health Interview Survey, 1993-2015
Annual Sample that is Nationally and Regionally Representative
Family, Household and Person Self-Report Data
Extensive Health and Social Psychological Measures including
Depression, anxiety
Other Mental Health Conditions
Other Emotional or Behavioral Problems

13. National Health Interview Survey, Restricted Data
Country of Birth and Related Immigration Variables (Person File)
State and Year of Birth (Person File)
Industry and Occupation Codes
Detailed Race and Hispanic Origin (Person File)
Exact Dates (e.g., date of birth in Person File)
Low levels of geography from state down to tract

14. Immigration Policy Enforcement and the Mental Health of Mexican Immigrant Families
Researchers at Columbia University: Neeraj Kaushal; Julia Wang
Local and state public deportation enforcement data
Linked with Restricted National Health Interview Survey (NHIS),
includes detailed health behaviors, health and mental health outcomes for Mexican immigrants
Includes state and local geographic identifiers

15. Early Life Mortality in the U. S. Elizabeth Lawrence, University of N
Early Life Mortality in the U.S. Elizabeth Lawrence, University of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill Rick Rogers, University of Colorado Boulder
NHIS-LMFs
246,464 records, 734 deaths
Restricted-use variables
Early life deaths (ages 0-17)
Exact dates (rather than quarters)
Age, day, month of birth, interview, and death
Detailed cause of death (beyond 10 categories)
New mortality linked files, when available
Geographic detail
50 states rather than 4 regions
Age top coding usually at ages 85+
Quarter of birth, interview, and death may be too broad for younger ages.
Some causes of death are perturbed
New matches, available this fall, will first be accessible only in an RDC
South generally experiences higher risk of death

16. Exposures to Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Respiratory Outcomes in Adults Using Two National Datasets: A Cross-sectional Study
Researchers: Keeve Nachman and Jennifer Parker
Datasets: NHIS, EPA Air Data System (External- Linked using geocode)
--Evaluates the relationship between air pollution and asthma across race/ethnicity…
--Revealed significant associations for non-Hispanic blacks but not for Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites

17. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Household Component
Naoki Aizawa—University of Minnesota
Asks how the ACA affects health insurance and labor markets
Uses MEPS-HC with state and county FIPS codes
Evaluates demand for health insurance as well as labor market impacts (changes in full time workers and part time workers, and in labor productivity).

18. National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys
Yuhua Bao and Yijun Pan—Cornell University
Misuse and Abuse of Prescription Opioids
Evaluates effectiveness of State Prescription Drug Monitory Programs (PDMP) in reducing physician prescribed opioids
NAMCSs identifies patient visits for pain-related reasons resulting in opioid prescription
Is trend reduced after adoption of PDMP?

19. National Vital Statistics System
The Geography and Rise in Deaths from Despair
The Geography and Decline in Teen Birth Rates
Age-specific births and deaths for population projections

20. NCHS Surveys Linked to National Death Index (NDI)
NHIS
NHANES
National Nursing Home Surveys (NNHS)
National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS) 2007
Supplement on Aging (SOA)
The Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II)

21. NCHS Surveys Linked to CMS Medicare Data
NHIS
NHANES
National Nursing Home Surveys (NNHS)
National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS) 2007
The Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II)

22. NCHS Surveys Linked to CMS Medicaid Data
NHIS
NHANES
National Nursing Home Surveys (NNHS)
The Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II)

23. NCHS Surveys Linked to SSA Benefit History Files
NHIS
NHANES
National Nursing Home Surveys (NNHS)
The Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II)

24. NCHS Proposals

25. Proposal Differences by Agency:
Census
NCHS and AHRQ
Approval % 70
nearly 100
Time to Approval
3-4 months on average
less on average
Benefit to Agency
PPS Required
Not Required
Fee
None
$1200 min extract fee
Scope
Broad (max of 30 pages)
Precise

26. Proposal Process: Write proposal – follow outline Fill out forms
Create data dictionary
Submit proposal to NCHS for review
Work with assigned analyst

27. Access Process NCHS Once proposal approved, request data extraction
$1,200-$2,500 fee for more extensive extraction
Pass on-line training
Access data
RDC (SSS required)
Work with data extract from NCHS in RDC
Output is reviewed by NCHS analyst, then ed
Disclosure review for manuscripts

28. Timeline for NCHS Projects
Timeline dependent on agency, analyst and data you are working with
Usually between 1-3 months
Census approval NOT required
Once approved we start SSS (1-3+ months)

29. Special Sworn Status
SSS is authorized by Title 13 U.S.C. 23 (c) "to assist the Bureau of the Census in performing the work authorized by this title.”
The Census Bureau may provide SSS to an individual
When an individual has expertise or specialized knowledge that can contribute to the accomplishment of Census Bureau projects or activities or engages in a joint project with the Census Bureau;
When an individual is employed by an agency/organization performing a service for the Census Bureau under contract or providing information to the Census Bureau for statistical purposes;
When Federal law requires an individual to audit, inspect, or investigate Census Bureau activities.

30. Background Check Off-line paperwork and documentation
On-line trainings and certifications
Background check
Submitted online and followed with interview
Residential history
Foreign travel
Education and employment history
References
Fingerprinting

31. Useful Websites Restricted NCHS Data
Restricted AHRQ Data