Racial Differences in Data Quality and Completeness: Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems’ Experiences

Minorities with spinal cord injuries often face a greater burden of disease. This study looks at whether the quality of data collected from these groups is as good as the data from non-Hispanic whites. The study found that non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics were more likely to have missing information in their responses, especially on questions about their economic situation. This could be due to a lack of trust or cultural differences. The researchers suggest that efforts should be made to improve data collection methods for minority groups, such as increasing diversity among data collectors and adapting questionnaires to be more culturally relevant.

• 1
  The overall missing data rate was significant across several measures, including economic self-sufficiency, alcohol use, drug use, life satisfaction, depression, and pain severity.
• 2
  Missing data rates for economic self-sufficiency were significantly higher among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites.
• 3
  Missing data in other outcome measures were significantly higher among non-Hispanic blacks than non-Hispanic whites, but not significantly different between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites.