Ethnicity Coding in Cancer Registries
Author Information
Author(s): Jack Ruth H, Linklater Karen M, Hofman David, Fitzpatrick Justine, Møller Henrik
Primary Institution: King's College London
Hypothesis
The study aims to determine the completeness of ethnicity coding in the Thames Cancer Registry and Hospital Episode Statistics data.
Conclusion
There was a large difference in the completeness of ethnicity recording between the two data sources, indicating a need for improved data collection methods.
Supporting Evidence
- Ethnicity was recorded for 81.1% of hospital admissions in the HES data.
- Only 22.7% of patients on the TCR database had a valid ethnicity code.
- Patients in more deprived areas were more likely to have an ethnic code recorded.
Takeaway
The study looked at how well hospitals record patients' ethnicities when they have cancer, and found that some places do a much better job than others.
Methodology
The study examined hospital admissions and cancer diagnoses, analyzing data on ethnicity, sex, age, and other factors.
Potential Biases
Selection bias may have occurred due to the nature of the HES dataset recording in-patient episodes rather than individual patients.
Limitations
The study did not attempt to match datasets to validate ethnic code information due to different time periods and definitions.
Participant Demographics
The study included London residents with malignant cancer as a primary diagnosis, with data on sex, age, and deprivation.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0003
Confidence Interval
(20.7, 22.7)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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