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Large secondary survey
databases, alone or linked to other data sources, are a valuable
and readily available resource for research on health outcomes
and effectiveness of care. Further, a systematic approach to study
design and data analysis can provide timely answers to important
questions that cannot be readily answered using other methods.
Time invested in choosing the appropriate data source to answer
the study question, and in understanding the design, capacity,
and limitations of the selected survey is an essential element
of the research process. The resources reviewed in this chapter,
and others, are available to help researchers access, understand
and analyze these data. Findings from this research can provide
new evidence and generate hypotheses that can be tested through
other methods.
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