Errors in Death Certificates in Texas Counties
Author Information
Author(s): Pierce J Rush Jr, Denison Anne V
Primary Institution: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Hypothesis
Do errors on the death certificate have a significant effect on county mortality data?
Conclusion
The study found a significant error rate in recording county of residence for deaths, leading to miscalculated mortality rates.
Supporting Evidence
- Eighteen of 354 death certificates recorded the incorrect county.
- 21 of 354 death certificates recorded the zip code improperly.
- 83% of county errors occurred for addresses within a zip code that contained addresses in both counties.
- The error rate for Randall County was 14.4%, while it was only 0.82% for Potter County.
- Errors were more common when the death certificate was filed by an out-of-town funeral home.
Takeaway
When people die, sometimes their death certificates say they lived in the wrong county, which can make it look like more or fewer people died in that area than really did.
Methodology
A random sample of 20% of death certificates was selected and verified using maps and census data.
Potential Biases
Errors were more likely when the death certificate was completed by an out-of-town funeral home.
Limitations
The study may not be generalizable to all Texas cities due to Amarillo's unique situation straddling two counties.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on residents of Amarillo, Texas, straddling Potter and Randall counties.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website