Assignment #3 – Using SPSS to Analyze Health Data

It is preferred that students work in pairs on the assignment, with one assignment submitted per pair; both students in a pair will receive the same grade. It is strongly recommended that both students actively participate in preparing the assignment. If, instead, partners choose to split the assignment (with each being responsible for different parts of the assignment), be aware than one person’s poor/non-completion of his/her portion is NOT an acceptable reason for submitting the assignment late. You may work with a student in the Monday section; if your partner from Monday uploaded your assignment, you do not need to upload a copy.

To complete this assignment, you will need the following files:

a) OSHPD Data File

b) OSHPD Documentation

c) CA County Codes

All the necessary files can be found on Blackboard in the SPSS Assignment folder on the “Assignments” tab.

INSTRUCTIONS – READ CAREFULLY

Copy results from your SPSS output file into a Word document. (Add your answers and output to this document.) All answers should be in complete sentences; it is NOT sufficient to paste the results into Word without specifically answering the question unless otherwise noted. Statistical tests must include complete interpretations along with the SPSS output.

You must include the log that describes the recoding of all variables needing to be recoded and all information on the work you have completed to answer the questions. Your SPSS data file (.sav) should match your answers. (In other words, I should be able to run the analyses from your SPSS file and get the same results you report.) You are required to type the values into the variable view of the SPSS file for all variables that you use, including the original variables you recode; your interpretations must use the category names and not simply the codes used in SPSS. (For counties, you only need to type in county names for the values you will use.)

Name the file as follows: OurLastNamesFirst Initials_Assign3.docx (e.g., WolfJ_Assign3.docx), where you replace OurLastNamesFirst Initials with your last names and first initials. Upload this Word document (please type your names at the top of the Word document) and your SPSS data file (.sav file) to Blackboard in the SPSS Assignment folder under the “Assignments” tab.

Read each question carefully.

Question 1(7.5 points)

Using the “disp” (disposition of patient) variable, answer the following questions:

a. What percent of all cases had a disposition of “within this hospital”?

b. What percent of all cases had a disposition of “to another hospital”?

HINT: You will probably want to recode the “disp” variable. Leave the codes 07 through 13 the

same. Check to see if there are values not specified in the Patient Data Discharge File Documentation.

Question 2(3.5 points)

Recode the variable “charges” so that charges of “0” and “1” are made system missing; all other charges should remain the same. Name this variable “NewChg.” Run frequencies on both the original and new charges variables. Paste the “Statistics” table (do NOT paste the frequency tables) showing the number of valid and missing cases for the old and new variables into your homework. (No sentence required.)

Question 3(14.5 points)

Is there a difference in charges (use the “NewChg” variable) between scheduled and unscheduled admissions (adm_type)?

Question 4(11 points)

Using all cases, is there a relationship between sex and ethnicity? “Ethncty” should be recoded into 2 categories – Hispanic and Non-Hispanic; “unknown” should be recoded to missing.)

Question 5(3 points)

Recode length of stay per the instructions in the Patient Data Discharge File Documentation into a new variable, NewLOS. (No sentence required.)

Question 6(3 points)

Using the new variables NewChg and NewLOS, create a variable for charge per day, ChargeDay, using this equation: NewChg / NewLOS. (No sentence required.)

Question 7(18 points)

Using the new variable for charge per day (ChargeDay), is there a difference in charge per day among patients in Alameda, Sacramento, and Santa Clara Counties?

Question 8(13.5 points)

Using all cases, is there a relationship between age (in years), charges, and length of stay? Use age_years, NewLOS, and NewChg.

Question 9(7.5 points)

Recode “agecat5” into 3 groups: age 17 and below, age 18-34, and age 35 and above. Using all cases, show the frequency tables for the old and new variables. What percent of individuals are 35 years and older?