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Performance of automated and manual coding systems for occupational data: a case study of historical records
Mehul D Patel1, Kathryn M Rose, Cindy R Owens
1Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA. mdpatel@email.unc.edu
Background:
Occupational data are a common source of workplace exposure and socioeconomic information in epidemiologic research. We compared the performance of two occupation coding methods, an automated software and a manual coder, using occupation and industry titles from U.S. historical records.
Methods:
We collected parental occupational data from 1920-40s birth certificates, Census records, and city directories on 3,135 deceased individuals in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Unique occupation-industry narratives were assigned codes by a manual coder and the Standardized Occupation and Industry Coding software program. We calculated agreement between coding methods of classification into major Census occupational groups.
Results:
Automated coding software assigned codes to 71% of occupations and 76% of industries. Of this subset coded by software, 73% of occupation codes and 69% of industry codes matched between automated and manual coding. For major occupational groups, agreement improved to 89% (kappa = 0.86).
Conclusions:
Automated occupational coding is a cost-efficient alternative to manual coding. However, some manual coding is required to code incomplete information. We found substantial variability between coders in the assignment of occupations although not as large for major groups.
Related Concept Videos
Archival Research
Types of Records II: Educational and Administrative Records
Methods of Documentation I: Source-Oriented Records
In an SOR, each discipline involved in patient care maintains a separate medical record section. This record-keeping method enables easy tracking of patient progress and ensures healthcare staff have access to up-to-date information.
Key Attributes include the following:
Purpose of Health Records II
Data Reporting and Recording
Data Collection II
