Data Source

Registry

Type of Study

Cross-section, regular

Data gathering method

Registries

Registries, based on data from health insurers

Ease

Data cannot be downloaded directly.

Conditions of access

Formal agreements (e.g. fees, research contracts, institutional agreements, etc.)

Access not yet arranged, but conditions will be: (1) Access fee (2) official authorization is required (CCS) (3) authorisation of register holder (CVZ) is required.

Time elapsed between application and reception of data

Months

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)

Anonymised microdata

Formats available

SPSS (default)

Language issues

Documentation is only available in Dutch.

Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes

Data was collected in 2009; data collection is ongoing and is scheduled to continue at some point in the future. It is nearly integral observation.

First year of collection

2009

Stratification if applicable

Not applicable

Base used for sampling

Not applicable

Geographical coverage and breakdowns

Almost entire Dutch population, excluding those not obliged to be insured via basic national health insurance.

Age range

No age restrictions

Statistical representativeness

Representative for all Dutch inhabitants, insured via basic national health insurance.

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics

Detailed study of: Expenditures on health services (within basic national health insurance).

Possibility of linkage among databases

Linkable to other person databases through anonymised personal number.

Entry errors if applicable

Entry errors within a certain type of health insurers who act as middle-men.

Breaks

None

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection

Consistent

Strengths: The registry has (near) completeness and is an official source for calculations for redistributing government subsidies among health insurers.