Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential
Joint Authors
Funamoto, Sachiyo
Chen, Yun
Katayama, Hiroaki
Cologne, John
Nakashima, Eiji
Grant, Eric J.
Source
Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Issue
Vol. 2012, Issue 2012 (31 Dec. 2012), pp.1-9, 9 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2012-02-02
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
9
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Objective.
Ensuring privacy of research subjects when epidemiologic data are shared with outside collaborators involves masking (modifying) the data, but overmasking can compromise utility (analysis potential).
Methods of statistical disclosure control for protecting privacy may be impractical for individual researchers involved in small-scale collaborations.
Methods.
We investigated a simple approach based on measures of disclosure risk and analytical utility that are straightforward for epidemiologic researchers to derive.
The method is illustrated using data from the Japanese Atomic-bomb Survivor population.
Results.
Masking by modest rounding did not adequately enhance security but rounding to remove several digits of relative accuracy effectively reduced the risk of identification without substantially reducing utility.
Grouping or adding random noise led to noticeable bias.
Conclusions.
When sharing epidemiologic data, it is recommended that masking be performed using rounding.
Specific treatment should be determined separately in individual situations after consideration of the disclosure risks and analysis needs.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Cologne, John& Grant, Eric J.& Nakashima, Eiji& Chen, Yun& Funamoto, Sachiyo& Katayama, Hiroaki. 2012. Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential. Journal of Environmental and Public Health،Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-470975
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Cologne, John…[et al.]. Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential. Journal of Environmental and Public Health No. 2012 (2012), pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-470975
American Medical Association (AMA)
Cologne, John& Grant, Eric J.& Nakashima, Eiji& Chen, Yun& Funamoto, Sachiyo& Katayama, Hiroaki. Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2012. Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-470975
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-470975