Factors Affecting Access to Administrative Health Data for Research: A Multiple Case Study of Three Canadian Provinces

Abstract

This study set out to identify the factors affecting access to administrative health data for research with the dual aims of identifying the specific barriers affecting access to data and gaining an improved understanding of reported inter-provincial variations in the timeliness of access. To meet these aims, a qualitative multiple case study was undertaken in three provinces (Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Ontario) with a focus on research where the point of access was the provincial data center. Data were collected from case documents and semi-structured key-informant interviews (n=46). A total of 32 inter-related factors spanning seven common categories were identified. These were largely similar across cases but varied in terms of how they affected access and the magnitude of their impact. These findings may be used to inform ongoing local and national efforts to improve access to these data, highlighting the need for context-specific strategies to improve data access.