Data Access - Health and Disability Intelligence

Health & Disability Intelligence
Data access

On this page:

Access to survey microdata

Health and Disability Intelligence (HDI) of the Ministry of Health is responsible for disseminating data collected in New Zealand Health Monitor (NZHM) surveys.

It is HDI’s role to maximise access to and use of its data, both within and beyond the Ministry of Health and District Health Boards, while ensuring responsible use of the data.

Confidentialised unit record files (CURFs) of NZHM surveys are potentially available to bona fide researchers after the key survey results have been released.

CURFs have had all identifying information about individuals removed, and have been modified to protect individual information. The term ‘microdata’ is also used to refer to unit record data from surveys.

This website provides information for researchers about how to apply for access to CURFs.

HDI Microdata Access Protocols

HDI has developed protocols for researchers accessing survey microdata. These protocols outline HDI’s policy for providing access to its microdata, and describe the way the policy is implemented. They cover the preparation of microdata for use, the application and approval process for requests to access microdata, and the monitoring of use by researchers and HDI.

HDI Microdata Access Protocol: Guide for External Researchers outlines the following:

HDI Microdata Access Policy
General terms and conditions for using microdata
How to apply for access to survey data
Templates and forms for applying to use survey data.

Who can apply for access to CURFs

CURF datasets are potentially available to bona fide public good researchers, government agencies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and District Health Boards (DHBs), subject to certain terms and conditions.

Research must not be inconsistent with the purposes for which the data were collected. Research must also be for public good purposes with clear value and benefits for New Zealand. It is not permitted where people or organisations stand to gain commercially.

Access to CURFs is a privilege, not a right. Researchers must apply for access to CURFs, and approval is subject to certain conditions, including that the researcher meets set criteria as described in the HDI Microdata Access Protocol: Guide for External Researchers, and the researcher’s organisation signs an agreement with HDI.

Survey datasets available to researchers

The following surveys are available as CURFs for researchers to access:

1996/97 New Zealand Health Survey
1997 National Nutrition Survey
2002 National Children’s Nutrition Survey
2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey
2006 New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey
2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey (adult dataset)
2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey (child dataset).

Summary information about CURFs available for research.

Standard CURFs are provided free of charge.

Terms and conditions for use

Researchers must agree to terms and conditions for use of microdata and sign an agreement, which include the following:

The CURF can only be used for the research project described in the application and agreement.
No attempts are to be made to data-match or identify individuals in the CURF.
Datasets must be kept fully secure, so that only authorised researchers can access the CURF and any outputs that are not sufficiently confidentialised.
Researchers must send an annual update of the research.
Research results must be made publicly available.
HDI must be sent a copy of all publications and presentations, prior to dissemination, to be aware in advance of potential public interest.
HDI will publish a summary of research projects and links to results on this website.

A full list of the general terms and conditions can be found in the HDI Microdata Access Protocol: Guide for External Researchers.

How to apply for access

Researchers who want to apply to access CURF dataset(s) need to follow these steps:

1. Read HDI Microdata Access Protocol: Guide for External Researchers which outlines HDI’s Microdata Access Policy, general terms and conditions and the process for accessing microdata.

2. Check the availability and content of the CURF dataset of interest. This involves:

consulting the list of datasets available for research to determine whether a dataset is available as a CURF.
checking the summary information provided about the CURF dataset to ensure that the data is available to support the proposed research.

3. Check the fit between the proposed research and the purposes for which the data were collected, to ensure that these are not inconsistent (as per Policy Principle 2 – Purpose).

4. Check that the criteria for researcher access to the dataset are met (as per Policy Principle 3 - Researchers).

5. Complete a Microdata Access Application Form with supporting material attached, including:

CVs for the lead researcher and Statistician/Analyst
a declaration signed by an authorised delegate of the lead researcher’s organisation, who is not one of the researchers, indicating support for the research and confirming that the researchers will abide by the terms and conditions of access
any other relevant background material.

6. Send the completed application form and supporting material to the HDI research liaison officer, at the following address:

HDI Research Liaison Officer
Health and Disability Intelligence
Ministry of Health
PO Box 5013
Wellington

Diagram of the process for accessing CURFs

Process for accessing CURFs.

Documents for downloading

HDI Microdata Access Protocol: Guide for External Researchers (PDF, 197 KB)
This document describes the Health and Disability Intelligence (HDI) Microdata Access Protocols. This includes:

HDI Microdata Access Policy
general terms and conditions for using microdata
how to apply for access to survey data
templates and forms for applying to use microdata.

Researchers need to read this document before applying for access to CURFs.

Summary information about CURF datasets available for research (PDF, 126 KB)
This document provides summary metadata about the New Zealand Health Monitor (NZHM) surveys currently available as CURFs for researchers. This information includes:

survey objectives
survey design
survey content
formats and sizes of the datasets available
potential limitations of the CURF
list of publications to refer to if further information required (including survey questionnaire).

Microdata Access Application Form (Word, 66 KB)
Researchers must complete this form to request access to HDI microdata. The application form should be completed electronically, except for signatures.

An application to access a CURF assumes that researchers agree to comply with the general terms and conditions for HDI microdata use listed in the document HDI Microdata Access Protocol: Guide for External Researchers.

Annual Research Update Form (Word, 32 KB)
Researchers with access to a CURF must complete this form on an annual basis, to provide HDI with an update about their project.

More information

If you have any questions about accessing HDI survey microdata, contact the HDI research liaison officer by emailing phi@moh.govt.nz
(Please put Microdata Access in the subject line of the email)

Last updated: 26 March 2009