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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate publicly available data sets to determine their utility for studying refugee health. METHODS: We searched for keywords describing refugees in data sets within the Society of General Internal Medicine Dataset Compendium and the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research database. We included in our analysis US-based data sets with publicly available documentation and a self-defined, health-related focus that allowed for an examination of patient-level factors. RESULTS: Of the 68 data sets that met the study criteria, 37 (54%) registered keyword matches related to refugees, but only 2 uniquely identified refugees. CONCLUSIONS: Few health data sets identify refugee status among participants, presenting barriers to understanding refugees' health and health care needs. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: Information about refugee status in national health surveys should include expanded demographic questions and focus on mental health and chronic disease.
Semere et al. (Fri,) studied this question.