Combining a name algorithm with a capture-recapture method to retrieve cases of Turkish descent from a German population-based cancer registry.
An increasing proportion of the 2 million Turkish residents in Germany is reaching the age in which cancer becomes a common health problem. However, data on cancer incidence and survival among Turkish residents are lacking due to incomplete reporting of nationality in German cancer registries. In the population-based cancer registry of the Saarland, retrieval by reported nationality yielded only 38% (95% confidence interval (CI): 31-45%) of the estimated number of Turkish cases in the registry; furthermore, nationality information was found to be inaccurate, and completeness dependent on the vital status of cases. A newly developed algorithm based on family names retrieved 85% (95% CI: 79-90%) of Turkish cases. Combining the two sources in a capture-recapture approach yielded 91% (95% CI: 86-94%) of the estimated total number of Turkish cases. Hence, the name-based algorithm provides a new and attractive tool for valid registry-based cancer research among Turks in Germany.
Razum
O
O
Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, Heidelberg University, Germany. oliver.razum@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Zeeb
H
H
Beck
K
K
Becher
H
H
Ziegler
H
H
Stegmaier
C
C
D000465:Algorithms; D015982:Bias; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012042:Registries; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology