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Nancy R. Kressin, PhD, Bei-Hung Chang, ScD, Ann Hendricks, PhD and Lewis E. Kazis, ScD

The authors are with the Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research (a Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development National Center of Excellence), Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Mass, and the Health Services Department, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Nancy R. Kressin, PhD, Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research, VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Rd, Building 70 (152), Bedford, MA 01730 (e-mail: nkressin{at}bu.edu).

Objectives. We examined agreement of administrative data with self-reported race/ethnicity and identified correlates of agreement.

Methods. We used Veterans Affairs administrative data and VA 1999 Large Health survey race/ethnicity data.

Results. Relatively low rates of agreement (approximately 60%) between data sources were largely the result of administrative data from patients whose race/ethnicity was unknown, with least agreement for Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander patients. After exclusion of patients with missing race/ethnicity, agreement improved except for Native Americans. Agreement did not increase substantially after inclusion of data from individuals indicating multiple race/ethnicities. Patients for whom there was better agreement between data sources tended to be less educated, non–solitary living, younger, and White; to have sufficient food; and to use more inpatient Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care.

Conclusions. Better reporting of race/ethnicity data will improve agreement between data sources. Previous studies using VA administrative data may have underestimated racial disparities.

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