Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential

Cologne, John; Grant, Eric J.; Nakashima, Eiji; Chen, Yun; Funamoto, Sachiyo; Katayama, Hiroaki

doi:10.1155/2012/421989

Title: Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential

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Abstract

Objective . Ensuring privacy of research subjects when epidemiologic data are shared with outside collaborators involves masking (modifying) the data, but overmasking can compromise utility (analysis potential). Methods of statistical disclosure control for protecting privacy may be impractical for individual researchers involved in small-scale collaborations. Methods . We investigated a simple approach based on measures of disclosure risk and analytical utility that are straightforward for epidemiologic researchers to derive. The method is illustrated using data from the Japanese Atomic-bomb Survivor population. Results . Masking by modest rounding did not adequately enhance security but rounding to remove several digits of relative accuracy effectively reduced the risk of identification without substantially reducing utility. Grouping or adding random noise led to noticeable bias. Conclusions . When sharing epidemiologic data, it is recommended that masking be performed using rounding. Specific treatment should be determined separately in individual situations after consideration of the disclosure risks and analysis needs.

Authors:

Cologne, John ^[1]; Grant, Eric J. ^[2]; Nakashima, Eiji ^[1]; Chen, Yun ^[3]; Funamoto, Sachiyo ^[1]; Katayama, Hiroaki ^[4]

Department of Statistics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
Department of Epidemiology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
Department of Medical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Department of Information Technology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan

Publication Date:: Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1198297

Resource Type:: Published Article

Journal Name:: Journal of Environmental and Public Health

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Name: Journal of Environmental and Public Health Journal Volume: 2012; Journal ID: ISSN 1687-9805

Publisher:: Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Country of Publication:: Egypt

Language:: English

Citation Formats


                    Cologne, John, Grant, Eric J., Nakashima, Eiji, Chen, Yun, Funamoto, Sachiyo, and Katayama, Hiroaki. Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential.  Egypt: N. p., 2012. 
Web.  doi:10.1155/2012/421989.

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                    Cologne, John, Grant, Eric J., Nakashima, Eiji, Chen, Yun, Funamoto, Sachiyo, & Katayama, Hiroaki. Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential.  Egypt.  https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/421989

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                    Cologne, John, Grant, Eric J., Nakashima, Eiji, Chen, Yun, Funamoto, Sachiyo, and Katayama, Hiroaki. Sun .  
"Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential".  Egypt.  https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/421989.

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@article{osti_1198297,

  title        = {Protecting Privacy of Shared Epidemiologic Data without Compromising Analysis Potential},

  author       = {Cologne, John and Grant, Eric J. and Nakashima, Eiji and Chen, Yun and Funamoto, Sachiyo and Katayama, Hiroaki},

  abstractNote = {Objective . Ensuring privacy of research subjects when epidemiologic data are shared with outside collaborators involves masking (modifying) the data, but overmasking can compromise utility (analysis potential). Methods of statistical disclosure control for protecting privacy may be impractical for individual researchers involved in small-scale collaborations. Methods . We investigated a simple approach based on measures of disclosure risk and analytical utility that are straightforward for epidemiologic researchers to derive. The method is illustrated using data from the Japanese Atomic-bomb Survivor population. Results . Masking by modest rounding did not adequately enhance security but rounding to remove several digits of relative accuracy effectively reduced the risk of identification without substantially reducing utility. Grouping or adding random noise led to noticeable bias. Conclusions . When sharing epidemiologic data, it is recommended that masking be performed using rounding. Specific treatment should be determined separately in individual situations after consideration of the disclosure risks and analysis needs.},

  doi          = {10.1155/2012/421989},

  journal      = {Journal of Environmental and Public Health},

  number       = ,

  volume       = 2012,

  place        = {Egypt},

  year         = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012},

  month        = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012}

}

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