A Validation Method to Determine Missing Years of Birth in a Cohort Study of Shipyard Workers Using Social Security Number. Issue 6 (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cabasag, Citadel J.; Ziogas, Argyrios; Shehata, Merna; Anton-Culver, Hoda
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 58:Issue 6(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000740
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate the generalizability and feasibility of a prediction method developed by Block et al (1983) to estimate missing age of workers by using their Social Security Numbers (SSNs). Methods: Our study used a retrospective occupational cohort of about 15, 000 workers from the Long Beach Naval Shipyard (1978 to 1985). Results: Our results showed an 89.2% agreement ( P < 0.0001) between the predicted and observed years of birth using Block's method. The correlation increased to 93.1% ( P < 0.0001) after our modifications by removing workers with SSNs issued in U.S. territories. The method performed better in shipyard workers who obtained their SSNs after 1950. Conclusion: Although the method is useful in imputing missing age, the accuracy is dependent on the year, age, and location of SSN issuance.