OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the generalizability and feasibility of a prediction method developed by Block et al (1983) to estimate missing age of workers by using their Social Security Numbers (SSNs). METHODS: Our study used a retrospective occupational cohort of about 15,000 workers from the Long Beach Naval Shipyard (1978 to 1985). RESULTS: Our results showed an 89.2% agreement (P < 0.0001) between the predicted and observed years of birth using Block's method. The correlation increased to 93.1% (P < 0.0001) after our modifications by removing workers with SSNs issued in U.S. territories. The method performed better in shipyard workers who obtained their SSNs after 1950. CONCLUSION: Although the method is useful in imputing missing age, the accuracy is dependent on the year, age, and location of SSN issuance.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the generalizability and feasibility of a prediction method developed by Block et al (1983) to estimate missing age of workers by using their Social Security Numbers (SSNs). METHODS: Our study used a retrospective occupational cohort of about 15,000 workers from the Long Beach Naval Shipyard (1978 to 1985). RESULTS: Our results showed an 89.2% agreement (P < 0.0001) between the predicted and observed years of birth using Block's method. The correlation increased to 93.1% (P < 0.0001) after our modifications by removing workers with SSNs issued in U.S. territories. The method performed better in shipyard workers who obtained their SSNs after 1950. CONCLUSION: Although the method is useful in imputing missing age, the accuracy is dependent on the year, age, and location of SSN issuance.
Authors: Scarlett Lin Gomez; Christina A Clarke; Sarah J Shema; Ellen T Chang; Theresa H M Keegan; Sally L Glaser Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-03-18 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Pamela L Horn-Ross; Laura A McClure; Ellen T Chang; Christina A Clarke; Theresa H M Keegan; Rudolph P Rull; Thu Quach; Scarlett Lin Gomez Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2011-01-05 Impact factor: 2.506
Authors: Scarlett Lin Gomez; Thu Quach; Pamela L Horn-Ross; Jane T Pham; Myles Cockburn; Ellen T Chang; Theresa H M Keegan; Sally L Glaser; Christina A Clarke Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-02-10 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Ellen T Chang; Juan Yang; Theresa Alfaro-Velcamp; Samuel K S So; Sally L Glaser; Scarlett Lin Gomez Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2010-10-12 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Ellen T Chang; Sarah J Shema; Heather A Wakelee; Christina A Clarke; Scarlett Lin Gomez Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2009-07-21 Impact factor: 4.254