What does this research mean for the field?

Approximately 14.7% of American Indian and Alaskan Native decedents in Washington State between 1989 and 1997 were misclassified on death certificates, a systematic bias that worsened over time but was less likely for individuals with higher levels of Native ancestry. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

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March 1, 2002Open Access

Effect of Racial/Ethnic Misclassification of American Indians and Alaskan Natives on Washington State Death Certificates, 1989–1997

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined effects of racial/ethnic misclassification of American Indians and Alaskan Natives on Washington State death certificates. METHODS: Probabilistic record linkage were used to match the 1989-1997 state death files to the Northwest Tribal Registry. RESULTS: We identified matches for 2819 decedents, including 414 (14.7%) who had been misclassified as non-American Indians and Alaskan Natives on the death certificates. The likelihood of being correctly classified increased 3-fold for each higher level of American Indian and Alaskan Native ancestry (odds ratio = 2.88; 95% confidence interval CI = 2.51, 3.30) and decreased by 6.9% per calendar year (95% CI = 2.0, 11.5). CONCLUSIONS: Systematic biases on death certificates in Washington State persist. Methods to reduce misclassification can improve data quality and enhance efforts to measure and reduce racial/ethnic health disparities.

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