Can Claims-Based Data Be Used to Recruit Black and Hispanic Subjects into Clinical Trials?

• Published in: Health services research Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 770 - 782
• Main Authors: Palacio, Ana M., Tamariz, Leonardo J., Uribe, Claudia, Li, Hua, Salkeld, Ellen J., Hazel-Fernandez, Leslie, Carrasquillo, Olveen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2012; Health Research and Educational Trust; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: administrative claims data; Aged; Algorithm; Algorithms; Biomedical engineering; Black or African American; Black People - statistics & numerical data; Claims; Clinical research; clinical trial design; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic - methods; Ethnic groups; Ethnicity; Female; Health insurance; Health insurance industry; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data; Hispanic people; Humans; Industry hiring; Insurance Claim Reporting - standards; Insurance Claim Reporting - statistics & numerical data; Insurance claims; Male; Medical research; Minorities; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority groups; Patient Selection; Race; Racial/ethnic disparities; Recruiting; Recruitment; Research Brief; Studies; United States; United States; Florida
• ISSN: 0017-9124; 1475-6773; 1475-6773
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01316.x

Objective Evaluate the accuracy of an algorithm at identifying ethnic minorities from administrative claims for enrollment into a clinical trial. Data Sources/Study Setting Claims data from a health benefits company. Study Design We compared results of a three‐step algorithm to self‐reported race/ethnicity. Data Collection/Extraction Methods Using the algorithm, we identified subjects with high probability of being minority and ascertained self‐reported race/ethnicity. Principal Findings We identified 164 subjects as likely minority based on our algorithm. Of these, 94 completed the survey and 87 identified themselves as black or Hispanic. The positive predictive value of the algorithm was 93 percent (CI: 85–97). Conclusions Claims data can be used to efficiently identify minorities for participation in clinical trials.