This page provides information about the National Stroke Data Linkage Interest Group.  It includes:

• The role of the group
• A brief history of the group
• Membership
• Current projects of group members
• Links to external sites relevant for data linkage

The role of National Stroke Data Linkage Interest Group

The aims of the National Stroke Data Linkage Interest Group are to:

• Seek advice from members and data custodians on the processes required for linking data on patients with stroke to externally held datasets
• Collaborate and seek a thorough understanding from members of the data transfer and linkage processes required to link these data to various external datasets held by state and commonwealth governments including:
  • hospital administrative data (admissions and emergency presentations)
  • death registry data (National Death Index)
  • prescription data (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
  • medical visits (Medical Benefits Schedule)

• Share knowledge on data coding, statistical techniques for the preparation of datasets and for the analyses of linked data
• Collaborate on writing grants to access data to understand the continuum of stroke, from prevention to quality of care and long term outcomes
• Explore future linkage possibilities for the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR) and other datasets

A brief history of the National Stroke Data Linkage Interest Group

The Data Linkage Sub-Committee was established by Chief Investigator Professor Dominique Cadilhac as part of Stroke123.  This was a complex study with numerous partner organisations and collaborators.  To facilitate the coordination and running of the project, various sub-committees were established including the Data Linkage Sub-Committee.

In 2018 this sub-committee was renamed the National Stroke Data Linkage Interest Group to identify the transition from Stroke123 to more generic national stroke data linkage projects.  The oversight and governance of this Group is performed by the AuSCR Steering Committee.

Interested in joining the National Stroke Data Linkage Interest Group?

Membership of the National Stroke Data Linkage Interest Group is free and open to all researchers, government employees, and data linkage experts across Australia. The group convene approximately four times per year to discuss:

• Novel and cutting-edge approaches for managing and analysing linked data
• Progress with existing and new data linkage projects in Australia
• Acquisition and use of linked data (including ethics and data custodian applications)
• Upcoming conferences and collaborative grant opportunities

Each year, the group convene a virtual conference for emerging leaders in data linkage research and a face-to-face meeting as part of the National Stroke Quality Improvement Workshop.

If you would like to join the National Stroke Data Linkage Interest Group, please complete the online application form.