On the wrong side of the tracts? Evaluating the accuracy of geocoding in public health research

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 91; no. 7; pp. 1114 - 1116
• Main Authors: Krieger, N, Waterman, P, Lemieux, K, Zierler, S, Hogan, JW
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01.07.2001; American Public Health Association
• Subjects: Abstracting and Indexing as Topic - economics; Abstracting and Indexing as Topic - standards; Accuracy; Bias; Biological and medical sciences; Birth certificates; Cancer; Censuses; Coding; Costs and Cost Analysis; Customer services; Data analysis; Data collection; Data Collection - economics; Data Collection - standards; Databases, Factual - economics; Databases, Factual - standards; Departments; Epidemiologic Methods; Epidemiology; Evaluation; General aspects; Geographic information systems; Geography; Humans; Maps as Topic; Medical research; Medical sciences; Methodology; New England; Population Surveillance - methods; Public Health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Software; Time Factors; USA; Websites; Evaluation; Costs; Accuracy; Methodology; Coding; Geographic information system; Database; Service quality; Public health
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.91.7.1114

This study sought to determine the accuracy of geocoding for public health databases. A test file of 70 addresses, 50 of which involved errors, was generated, and the file was geocoded to the census tract and block group levels by 4 commercial geocoding firms. Also, the "real world" accuracy of the best-performing firm was evaluated. Accuracy rates in regard to geocoding of the test file ranged from 44% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 32%, 56%) to 84% (95% CI = 73%, 92%). The geocoding firm identified as having the best accuracy rate correctly geocoded 96% of the addresses obtained from the public health databases. Public health studies involving geocoded databases should evaluate and report on methods used to verify accuracy.