Sofie Broe - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Sofie Broe
Health Technology Assessment, 2001
is a member of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Commissioning Board. Ajit Lalvani is a name... more is a member of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Commissioning Board. Ajit Lalvani is a named inventor on several patents underpinning the T-SPOT.TB test assigned by the University of Oxford to Oxford Immunotec Ltd and has royalty entitlements from the University of Oxford. He was the scientific founder of Oxford Immunotec Ltd and ceased to be a director 10 years ago. He is a member of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Board. Charlotte Jackson was funded by NIHR, during the conduct of the study, and reports personal fees from Otsuka Pharmaceutical, outside the submitted work. Chris Griffiths is involved in NIHR-funded clinical trials units. Jonathan J Deeks is Chairperson of the NIHR HTA Efficient Studies Themed Board, Chairperson of the NIHR HTA Multimorbidities in Older People Themed Board, Deputy Chairperson of the NIHR HTA Commissioning Board, Chairperson of the NIHR HTA Monitoring Strategy Group, a member of the NIHR HTA Methods Group for Diagnostic, Technologies & Screening, a member of the NIHR HTA Methods Group for Elective & Emergency Specialist Care, a member of the NIHR HTA
Statistical Journal of the IAOS
This paper discusses how Statistics Netherlands managed to respond quickly with a range of new ou... more This paper discusses how Statistics Netherlands managed to respond quickly with a range of new outputs to the sudden increase in the need for statistical information following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the innovation process already in place, as well as the innovations in response to the pandemic. This is followed by a discussion of what made speedy innovation and implementation possible, after which lessons are drawn in order to maintain the ability to react quickly to future policy questions. One important success factor is the combination of new data sources with already existing statistics for calibration. The developments at Statistics Netherlands can be seen as a case study. Several other NSIs also accelerated innovation after the outbreak of the pandemic, such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the British Office for National Statistics.
International Journal of Population Data Science, 2022
IntroductionTo combat and mitigate the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reducing the number ... more IntroductionTo combat and mitigate the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reducing the number of social contacts within a population is highly effective. Non-pharmaceutical policy interventions, e.g. stay-at-home orders, closing schools, universities, and (non-essential) businesses, are expected to decrease pedestrian flows in public areas, leading to reduced social contacts. The extent to which such interventions show the targeted effect is often measured retrospectively by surveying behavioural changes. Approaches that use data generated through mobile phones are hindered by data confidentiality and privacy regulations and complicated by selection effects. Furthermore, access to such sensitive data is limited. However, a complex pandemic situation requires a fast evaluation of the effectiveness of the introduced interventions aiming to reduce social contacts. Location-based sensor systems installed in cities, providing objective measurements of spatial mobility in the form of p...
and Paper Businesses are ever innovating. New business processes, depending on the industry, are ... more and Paper Businesses are ever innovating. New business processes, depending on the industry, are heavily data-driven nowadays. A fine example of such a development is precision farming, where sensors aid farmers in their business operations. The generated data are full of information that might also be useful for National Statistical Institutes (NSI) and used instead of collecting data via survey questionnaires. In that case, response burden on the companies could be greatly reduced. Moreover, the sensor data could contain information that traditionally was too detailed and technical to ask for in questionnaires. Furthermore, these data may be used in timely benchmark indicators in complement to statistics. In theory sensor data thus might be a valuable new source for official statistics. In order to study these research goals, a case study has been initiated in which CBS worked together with an innovative farmer and the Eindhoven University of Technology. The farmer has made a sele...
Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 2019
Since 2009 Statistics Netherlands (SN) has been exploring the use of Big Data (BD) in official st... more Since 2009 Statistics Netherlands (SN) has been exploring the use of Big Data (BD) in official statistics. This research resulted in new or improved official statistical products such as the Consumer Price Index based on web scraped prices, and the traffic intensity indicator using traffic loop data. With the aim to make use of new BD sources, SN established the Center for Big Data Statistics (CBDS). The CBDS builds upon acquired data science expertise in an ecosystem of academic and private partners in order to make official statistics using survey, administrative and BD sources and methods. This multisource approach provides better insights into complex policy questions. One of these complex questions for policy makers is the energy transition and how to move away from carbon based to renewable energy sources. More detailed data is necessary in order to get a better insight into locally produced renewable energy and to allow policy makers to design policies that allow matching offer and demand. We use multiple data sources in a combined fashion to provide insight into solar energy provision. We conclude by giving general guidelines for the process to embed the experimental statistic in the official statistical process.
The Ch′orti′ Maya Area, 2009
Population, Space and Place, 2006
... and information on birth control through behavioural mechanisms of social learn-ing, socialin... more ... and information on birth control through behavioural mechanisms of social learn-ing, socialinfluence and social ... the decline itself was 'determined by the speed at which the various social groups are ... Because of the focus of our research, two new variables were created in order ...
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 2002
Objectives: Systematic review of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of donepezil, rivastigmine, ... more Objectives: Systematic review of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.Methods: Sixteen electronic databases (including MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and Embase) and bibliographies of related papers were searched for published/unpublished English language studies, and experts and pharmaceutical companies were consulted for additional information. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and economic studies were selected. Clinical effectiveness was assessed on measurement scales assessing progression of Alzheimer's disease on the person's global health, cognition, functional ability, behavior and mood, and quality of life. Cost-effectiveness was presented as incremental cost per year spent in a nonsevere state (by Mini Mental Health State Examination) or quality-adjusted life-year.Results: Twelve of 15 RCTs included were judged to be of good quality. Although donepezil had beneficial effe...
International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 2009
Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 2021
This paper aims to elicit a discussion of the existence of a paradigm shift in official statistic... more This paper aims to elicit a discussion of the existence of a paradigm shift in official statistics through the emergence of new (unstructured) data sources and methods that may not adhere to established and existing statistical practices and quality frameworks. The paper discusses strengths and weaknesses of several data sources. Furthermore, it discusses methodological, technical and cultural barriers in dealing with new data and methods in data science; cultural as in the culture that reigns in an area of expertise or approach. The paper concludes with suggestions of updating the existing quality frameworks. We take the position that there is no paradigm shift but that the existing production processes should be adjusted and that existing quality frameworks should be updated in order for official statistics to benefit from the fusion of data, knowledge and skills among survey methodologists and data scientists.
Statistical Journal of the IAOS
New business processes are increasingly data driven as sensors have become ubiquitous. Sensor dat... more New business processes are increasingly data driven as sensors have become ubiquitous. Sensor data could be a valuable new data source for official statistics. To study this presumption Statistics Netherlands conducted a small-scale use case in the area of agricultural statistics in collaboration with an innovative farmer. A selection of his sensor data was explored for overlap with current data demands in surveys. The aim of the study was to obtain insights in the available agricultural data, their data structure and quality, and explore new methods of data collection for agricultural statistics. The conclusion is that these data are valuable for replacing or pre-filling (parts of) certain agricultural surveys. However, many more challenges surfaced than we expected, to which the title of this paper refers. These challenges will be discussed in this paper.
Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Jul 1, 2005
Objective This study investigated ethnic differentials in the use of pregnancy-related care and a... more Objective This study investigated ethnic differentials in the use of pregnancy-related care and aimed to identify whether the differences persist when geographical access to services is equal. This study was based in the northeastern Ch'orti area of Guatemala, an area characterised by a mixed ladino (of Spanish descent) and Maya (Ch'orti) culture. Methods Data from a household survey carried out in 2001 in the town of Jocotán, and a previous survey carried out in 1994 in two nearby indigenous villages (aldeas), were used in this study. Logistic regression was used to explore the data. Unlike the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (1998-1999) that classifies ethnic groups according to dress and language, this study introduced an alternative approach based on self-identification. Results The results showed significant differences and a gradient in the use of modern pregnancy care services among self-identified ethnic groups within the same town, after controlling for socioeconomic and cultural indicators. Women of 'mixed' ethnicity had an intermediate behaviour between ladino and indigenous women. Women in the nearby aldeas almost solely relied on the traditional birth attendant for pregnancy-related care. The DHS data did not permit the detection of ethnic diversity in the use of pregnancy care for this region. Conclusions Differences in the use of modern pregnancy care exist even among self-identified ethnic groups with no outward markers of ethnicity and persist when access to services is equal. For the majority of the population, living in indigenous villages, pregnancy care remains traditional. This ethnic diversity highlights the importance of further extending affordable, high-quality and culturally adapted maternal health care services in Guatemala.
Journal of Biosocial Science, 2005
This study investigates the ethnic differentials in contraceptive use in the north-eastern Ch’ort... more This study investigates the ethnic differentials in contraceptive use in the north-eastern Ch’orti area of Guatemala, a region dominated by the Ladino culture. Data come from a household survey and in-depth interviews with service providers carried out in 2001 in the town of Jocotán, and a survey carried out in 1994 in two nearby indigenous villages (aldeas). Descriptive analysis and logistic regression are used to explore the data. Previous DHS surveys have used dress and language to classify ethnic groups. In this paper, an alternative approach based on self-identification is adopted. The results reveal significant differences in contraceptive behaviour among different ethnic groups within the same town and region. The results show that self-identified Ladino women who represented the minority of the population had contraceptive behaviour similar to their counterparts elsewhere in Latin America. The extremely low levels of contraceptive use among indigenous women from the aldeas suggest that the corresponding DHS figures in this region are probably overestimated.
Health Technology Assessment, 2001
is a member of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Commissioning Board. Ajit Lalvani is a name... more is a member of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Commissioning Board. Ajit Lalvani is a named inventor on several patents underpinning the T-SPOT.TB test assigned by the University of Oxford to Oxford Immunotec Ltd and has royalty entitlements from the University of Oxford. He was the scientific founder of Oxford Immunotec Ltd and ceased to be a director 10 years ago. He is a member of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Board. Charlotte Jackson was funded by NIHR, during the conduct of the study, and reports personal fees from Otsuka Pharmaceutical, outside the submitted work. Chris Griffiths is involved in NIHR-funded clinical trials units. Jonathan J Deeks is Chairperson of the NIHR HTA Efficient Studies Themed Board, Chairperson of the NIHR HTA Multimorbidities in Older People Themed Board, Deputy Chairperson of the NIHR HTA Commissioning Board, Chairperson of the NIHR HTA Monitoring Strategy Group, a member of the NIHR HTA Methods Group for Diagnostic, Technologies & Screening, a member of the NIHR HTA Methods Group for Elective & Emergency Specialist Care, a member of the NIHR HTA
Statistical Journal of the IAOS
This paper discusses how Statistics Netherlands managed to respond quickly with a range of new ou... more This paper discusses how Statistics Netherlands managed to respond quickly with a range of new outputs to the sudden increase in the need for statistical information following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the innovation process already in place, as well as the innovations in response to the pandemic. This is followed by a discussion of what made speedy innovation and implementation possible, after which lessons are drawn in order to maintain the ability to react quickly to future policy questions. One important success factor is the combination of new data sources with already existing statistics for calibration. The developments at Statistics Netherlands can be seen as a case study. Several other NSIs also accelerated innovation after the outbreak of the pandemic, such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the British Office for National Statistics.
International Journal of Population Data Science, 2022
IntroductionTo combat and mitigate the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reducing the number ... more IntroductionTo combat and mitigate the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reducing the number of social contacts within a population is highly effective. Non-pharmaceutical policy interventions, e.g. stay-at-home orders, closing schools, universities, and (non-essential) businesses, are expected to decrease pedestrian flows in public areas, leading to reduced social contacts. The extent to which such interventions show the targeted effect is often measured retrospectively by surveying behavioural changes. Approaches that use data generated through mobile phones are hindered by data confidentiality and privacy regulations and complicated by selection effects. Furthermore, access to such sensitive data is limited. However, a complex pandemic situation requires a fast evaluation of the effectiveness of the introduced interventions aiming to reduce social contacts. Location-based sensor systems installed in cities, providing objective measurements of spatial mobility in the form of p...
and Paper Businesses are ever innovating. New business processes, depending on the industry, are ... more and Paper Businesses are ever innovating. New business processes, depending on the industry, are heavily data-driven nowadays. A fine example of such a development is precision farming, where sensors aid farmers in their business operations. The generated data are full of information that might also be useful for National Statistical Institutes (NSI) and used instead of collecting data via survey questionnaires. In that case, response burden on the companies could be greatly reduced. Moreover, the sensor data could contain information that traditionally was too detailed and technical to ask for in questionnaires. Furthermore, these data may be used in timely benchmark indicators in complement to statistics. In theory sensor data thus might be a valuable new source for official statistics. In order to study these research goals, a case study has been initiated in which CBS worked together with an innovative farmer and the Eindhoven University of Technology. The farmer has made a sele...
Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 2019
Since 2009 Statistics Netherlands (SN) has been exploring the use of Big Data (BD) in official st... more Since 2009 Statistics Netherlands (SN) has been exploring the use of Big Data (BD) in official statistics. This research resulted in new or improved official statistical products such as the Consumer Price Index based on web scraped prices, and the traffic intensity indicator using traffic loop data. With the aim to make use of new BD sources, SN established the Center for Big Data Statistics (CBDS). The CBDS builds upon acquired data science expertise in an ecosystem of academic and private partners in order to make official statistics using survey, administrative and BD sources and methods. This multisource approach provides better insights into complex policy questions. One of these complex questions for policy makers is the energy transition and how to move away from carbon based to renewable energy sources. More detailed data is necessary in order to get a better insight into locally produced renewable energy and to allow policy makers to design policies that allow matching offer and demand. We use multiple data sources in a combined fashion to provide insight into solar energy provision. We conclude by giving general guidelines for the process to embed the experimental statistic in the official statistical process.
The Ch′orti′ Maya Area, 2009
Population, Space and Place, 2006
... and information on birth control through behavioural mechanisms of social learn-ing, socialin... more ... and information on birth control through behavioural mechanisms of social learn-ing, socialinfluence and social ... the decline itself was 'determined by the speed at which the various social groups are ... Because of the focus of our research, two new variables were created in order ...
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 2002
Objectives: Systematic review of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of donepezil, rivastigmine, ... more Objectives: Systematic review of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.Methods: Sixteen electronic databases (including MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and Embase) and bibliographies of related papers were searched for published/unpublished English language studies, and experts and pharmaceutical companies were consulted for additional information. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and economic studies were selected. Clinical effectiveness was assessed on measurement scales assessing progression of Alzheimer's disease on the person's global health, cognition, functional ability, behavior and mood, and quality of life. Cost-effectiveness was presented as incremental cost per year spent in a nonsevere state (by Mini Mental Health State Examination) or quality-adjusted life-year.Results: Twelve of 15 RCTs included were judged to be of good quality. Although donepezil had beneficial effe...
International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 2009
Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 2021
This paper aims to elicit a discussion of the existence of a paradigm shift in official statistic... more This paper aims to elicit a discussion of the existence of a paradigm shift in official statistics through the emergence of new (unstructured) data sources and methods that may not adhere to established and existing statistical practices and quality frameworks. The paper discusses strengths and weaknesses of several data sources. Furthermore, it discusses methodological, technical and cultural barriers in dealing with new data and methods in data science; cultural as in the culture that reigns in an area of expertise or approach. The paper concludes with suggestions of updating the existing quality frameworks. We take the position that there is no paradigm shift but that the existing production processes should be adjusted and that existing quality frameworks should be updated in order for official statistics to benefit from the fusion of data, knowledge and skills among survey methodologists and data scientists.
Statistical Journal of the IAOS
New business processes are increasingly data driven as sensors have become ubiquitous. Sensor dat... more New business processes are increasingly data driven as sensors have become ubiquitous. Sensor data could be a valuable new data source for official statistics. To study this presumption Statistics Netherlands conducted a small-scale use case in the area of agricultural statistics in collaboration with an innovative farmer. A selection of his sensor data was explored for overlap with current data demands in surveys. The aim of the study was to obtain insights in the available agricultural data, their data structure and quality, and explore new methods of data collection for agricultural statistics. The conclusion is that these data are valuable for replacing or pre-filling (parts of) certain agricultural surveys. However, many more challenges surfaced than we expected, to which the title of this paper refers. These challenges will be discussed in this paper.
Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Jul 1, 2005
Objective This study investigated ethnic differentials in the use of pregnancy-related care and a... more Objective This study investigated ethnic differentials in the use of pregnancy-related care and aimed to identify whether the differences persist when geographical access to services is equal. This study was based in the northeastern Ch'orti area of Guatemala, an area characterised by a mixed ladino (of Spanish descent) and Maya (Ch'orti) culture. Methods Data from a household survey carried out in 2001 in the town of Jocotán, and a previous survey carried out in 1994 in two nearby indigenous villages (aldeas), were used in this study. Logistic regression was used to explore the data. Unlike the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (1998-1999) that classifies ethnic groups according to dress and language, this study introduced an alternative approach based on self-identification. Results The results showed significant differences and a gradient in the use of modern pregnancy care services among self-identified ethnic groups within the same town, after controlling for socioeconomic and cultural indicators. Women of 'mixed' ethnicity had an intermediate behaviour between ladino and indigenous women. Women in the nearby aldeas almost solely relied on the traditional birth attendant for pregnancy-related care. The DHS data did not permit the detection of ethnic diversity in the use of pregnancy care for this region. Conclusions Differences in the use of modern pregnancy care exist even among self-identified ethnic groups with no outward markers of ethnicity and persist when access to services is equal. For the majority of the population, living in indigenous villages, pregnancy care remains traditional. This ethnic diversity highlights the importance of further extending affordable, high-quality and culturally adapted maternal health care services in Guatemala.
Journal of Biosocial Science, 2005
This study investigates the ethnic differentials in contraceptive use in the north-eastern Ch’ort... more This study investigates the ethnic differentials in contraceptive use in the north-eastern Ch’orti area of Guatemala, a region dominated by the Ladino culture. Data come from a household survey and in-depth interviews with service providers carried out in 2001 in the town of Jocotán, and a survey carried out in 1994 in two nearby indigenous villages (aldeas). Descriptive analysis and logistic regression are used to explore the data. Previous DHS surveys have used dress and language to classify ethnic groups. In this paper, an alternative approach based on self-identification is adopted. The results reveal significant differences in contraceptive behaviour among different ethnic groups within the same town and region. The results show that self-identified Ladino women who represented the minority of the population had contraceptive behaviour similar to their counterparts elsewhere in Latin America. The extremely low levels of contraceptive use among indigenous women from the aldeas suggest that the corresponding DHS figures in this region are probably overestimated.