Which statement is NOT a purpose of data linkage in surveillance?

• A. Data linkage connects records from different sources using identifiers to create a complete case profile and enhance data quality.
• B. It enables a more complete view of cases for analysis.
• C. It supports combining disparate data sources for analysis.
• D. It links data across sources to reduce the security risk by sharing PHI.

Answer: (D)

Data linkage in surveillance is about connecting records from multiple sources to build a complete, accurate picture of each case. This linking helps fill gaps, reduces duplicates, and creates a single, richer case profile that improves data quality. With a more complete view of cases, analysts can perform more reliable analyses and draw clearer insights by combining information from different sources.

What isn’t the aim is to say the purpose is to reduce security risk by sharing PHI. Sharing personally identifiable health information introduces privacy and security challenges, so the goal is to enable useful analysis while protecting confidentiality through safeguards and privacy-preserving practices, not to reduce risk simply by sharing PHI.