Accuracy and reliability
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Welfare and Health, Social StatisticsBenedikte Beckman Nygaard
+45 21 19 10 53
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The overall precision of the statistics is under continuous improvement. In 2021, 2022 and 2023 full coverage has been achieved for all municipalities (i.e. all 98 municipalities have approved their data).
There may generally be some uncertainty due to varying registration practices in municipalities and in drug abuse treatment centers. Audits are expected in connection with quality work. Furthermore, a higher coverage will also bring audits back in time.
Overall accuracy
There is likely to be a minor degree of under-reporting, but there are no sources of systematic uncertainty.
Sampling error
Not relevant for these statistics.
Non-sampling error
In the drug abuse treatment statistics from Statistics Denmark, only the approved municipalities are included. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, the statistics will thus cover the entire country.
Registration of substitution treatment with your own doctor is not possible in SMDB. Therefore, many treatment centers register their own doctor as the treating physician (authorization code) when treating according to §142 of the Health Act, even though it is actually another doctor who is treating the citizen.
Quality management
Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.
Quality assurance
Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.
Quality assessment
The quality of the statistics is increasing every year, as work is continuously being done to find new ways to ensure the quality of data and to communicate better and more effectively with municipalities and drug abuse treatment centers.
Data revision - policy
Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.
Data revision practice
Revisions for previous years are implemented when compiling results for a new year. Respondents can make corrections to already reported data or additions of new information daily. These changes will be included in the next publication. Each publication will make an estimate of the size of the revisions on the main figures distributed by municipalities. Relatively few revisions are expected for years that are more than a couple years back in time.