Using VA data for research in persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders: lessons from SCI QUERI

J Rehabil Res Dev. 2010;47(8):679-88. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2009.08.0117.

Abstract

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides integrated services to more than 25,000 veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). VA data offer great potential for providing insights into healthcare utilization and morbidity, and these capabilities are central to efforts to improve healthcare for veterans with SCI/D. The objective of this article is to introduce researchers to the use of VA data to examine questions related to SCI/D using examples from Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative studies. Sources of VA data available to investigators interested in SCI/D-related research include national-level VA administrative and clinical databases and primary data (medical record review, patient surveys). Methods used to identify veterans with SCI/D include the Allocation Resource Center cohort, the Spinal Cord Dysfunction (SCD) Registry, and the VA inpatient SCI flag; only 33% of veterans were included in all three groups (n = 12,306). While neurological level of SCI was unknown for approximately a third of veterans (from SCD Registry data alone), the percent decreased to 13% when augmented with diagnostic codes. Primary data can be used to augment other missing SCI data and to provide more detailed information about complications commonly associated with SCI/D.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Databases, Factual*
  • Health Services Research / organization & administration*
  • Hospitals, Veterans
  • Humans
  • International Classification of Diseases
  • Medical Records
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized*
  • Registries
  • Research Personnel
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / epidemiology
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / rehabilitation
  • Total Quality Management / organization & administration
  • United States / epidemiology
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs / organization & administration
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Veterans / statistics & numerical data*