Improving the quality of industry and occupation data at a central cancer registry.
BACKGROUND
Central cancer registries are required to collect industry and occupation (I/O) information when available, but the data reported are often incomplete.


METHODS
We audited the completeness of I/O data in the New Hampshire State Cancer Registry (NHSCR) database for diagnosis year 2005, and reviewed medical records for a convenience sample of 474 of these cases. We compared I/O data quality before and after a statewide registrar training session on occupationally related cancers.


RESULTS
The original 2005 data contained both I/O data in 11.5% of cases, and lacked any I/O data in 74.5%. Corresponding figures for cases selected for audit were 15.2% and 77.2%, which improved to 54.2% and 11.8% after medical record review. After registrar training, 47% of reports contained both I/O data, and only 14.4% of cases lacked any I/O data.


CONCLUSIONS
Statewide training to highlight the importance of I/O data is an effective method to improve I/O data quality.
Armenti
Karla R
KR
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Concord, USA. karmenti@dhhs.state.nh.us
Celaya
Maria O
MO
Cherala
Sai
S
Riddle
Bruce
B
Schumacher
Pamela K
PK
Rees
Judy R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007221:Industry / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009513:New Hampshire / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design; D055815:Young Adult