Improving the quality of industry and occupation data at a central cancer registry

Self Cite

Background Although data on industry and occupation (I&O) are important for understanding cancer risks, obtaining standardized data is challenging. This study describes the capture of specific I&O text and the ability of a web-based tool to translate text into standardized codes. Methods Data on 62 525 cancers cases received from eight National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) states were submitted to a web-based coding tool developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for translation into standardized I&O codes. We determined the percentage of sufficiently analyzable codes generated by the tool. Results Using the web-based coding tool on data obtained from chart abstraction, the NPCR cancer registries achieved between 48% and 75% autocoding, but only 12–57% sufficiently analyzable codes. Conclusions The ability to explore associations between work-related exposures and cancer is limited by current capture and coding of I&O data. Increased training of providers and registrars, as well as software enhancements, will improve the utility of I&O data.

Section: | Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: | Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capture and coding of industry and occupation measures: Findings from eight National Program of Cancer Registries states

Freeman

Rees

Johnson³

et al. 2017

Self Cite

“…In a 2009 survey, only 16 states voluntarily collected information on parental occupation on birth certificates and 24 collected information on parental occupation on fetal death certificates [Fitzgerald et al, ]. Even when occupational information is collected, it is often incomplete or of poor quality [Shaw et al, ; Brender et al, ]—though the quality of information can be greatly improved when staff are trained on the importance of occupational data [Armenti et al, ]. The lack of information on parental employment status or occupation has limited research on employment and pregnancy outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with employment status before and during pregnancy: Implications for studies of pregnancy outcomes

Rocheleau

Bertke

Lawson

et al. 2017

Employment status was significantly associated with many common risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy outcome studies should consider adjustment or stratification by employment status. In studies of occupational exposures, these differences may cause uncontrollable confounding if non-employed women are treated as unexposed instead of excluded from analysis. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:329-341, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

“…A study of I&O availability (categorizing “retired” and “non‐working” as available) in the New Hampshire State Cancer Registry found differences by demographic characteristics and by broad groupings of malignancy type and data source . The current project extends this area of research by focusing on codability of I&O text to Census 2010 I&O codes by malignancy type and by demographic, source reporting, and payor characteristics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Results of the current study show that such cases have markedly greater I&O codability when hospital records are also available and accessed for case information. A New Hampshire study showed a decrease in the number of records judged to have no I&O data from 74% to 14% after detailed records review followed by targeted registrar training in I/O collection . The percentage of records judged to have complete, codable I&O data was only 48% even after review training (in part because 20% of records belonged to individuals not in the paid workforce), but this was nearly triple the level before these additional steps.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Codability of industry and occupation information from cancer registry records: Differences by patient demographics, casefinding source, payor, and cancer type

Silver

Tsai

Morris

et al. 2018

Introduction Industry and occupation (I&O) information collected by cancer registries is useful for assessing associations among jobs and malignancies. However, systematic differences in I&O availability can bias findings. Methods Codability by patient demographics, payor, identifying (casefinding) source, and cancer site was assessed using I&O text from first primaries diagnosed 2011‐2012 and reported to California Cancer Registry. I&O were coded to a U.S. Census code or classified as blank/inadequate/unknown, retired, or not working for pay. Results Industry was codable for 37% of cases; 50% had “unknown” and 9% “retired” instead of usual industry. Cases initially reported by hospitals, covered by preferred providers, or with known occupational etiology had highest codable industry; cases from private pathology laboratories, with Medicaid, or diagnosed in outpatient settings had least. Occupation results were similar. Conclusions Recording usual I&O for retirees and improving linkages for reporting entities without patient access would improve I&O codability and research validity.