title: Combining a name algorithm with a capture-recapture method to retrieve cases of Turkish descent from a German population-based cancer registry.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, Heidelberg University, Germany. oliver.razum@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Razum
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeeb
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stegmaier
mesh_terms: 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