Evaluating the accuracy of a geographic closed-ended approach to ethnicity measurement, a practical alternative

Ann Epidemiol. 2014 Apr;24(4):246-53. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2013.12.015. Epub 2014 Jan 16.

Abstract

Purpose: Measuring ethnicity accurately is important for identifying ethnicity variations in disease risk. We evaluated the degree of agreement and accuracy of maternal ethnicity measured using the new standardized closed-ended geographically based ethnicity question and geographic reclassification of open-ended ethnicity questions from the Canadian census.

Methods: A prospectively designed study of respondent agreement of mothers of healthy children aged 1-5 years recruited through the TARGet Kids! practice-based research network. For the primary analysis, the degree of agreement between geographic reclassification of the Canadian census maternal ethnicity variables and the new geographically based closed-ended maternal ethnicity variable completed by the same respondent was evaluated using a kappa analysis.

Results: Eight hundred sixty-two mothers who completed both measures of ethnicity were included in the analysis. The kappa agreement statistic for the two definitions of maternal ethnicity was 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.90) indicating good agreement. Overall accuracy of the measurement was 93%. Sensitivity and specificity ranged from 83% to 100% and 96% to 100%, respectively.

Conclusions: The new standardized closed-ended geographically based ethnicity question represents a practical alternative to widely used open-ended ethnicity questions. It may reduce risk of misinterpretation of ethnicity by respondents, simplify analysis, and improve the accuracy of ethnicity measurement.

Keywords: Child health; Children; Ethnicity; Kappa statistic; Measurement error; Pediatrics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Censuses*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Data Collection / methods
  • Ethnicity*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Mothers
  • Ontario
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Report / standards*