Centralizing the QA Process to Improve Data Quality
Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry
Prior to 2008, a few weeks before the annual data submission, all Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry (ASCR) staff reviewed the data for the standardized edits. The data submission process took more than a week to complete, during which time all other work was suspended.
In 2008, the ASCR designated a quality assurance (QA) coordinator to review the data quarterly for the standardized edits. Besides the standard edit checks, 43 additional edit checks have been created to improve data quality. These nontraditional edit checks are performed as time permits.
Since this approach was implemented, the amount of time required to perform the call for data has been reduced dramatically, and there is no longer a rush to complete the edit checks. Instead of taking more than a week, the data submission takes two days at most, with normal registry activity suspended for only a few hours. This approach also allows the ASCR to address coding issues with reporting facilities in a timely manner.
Centralizing the QA process and adding new edit checks have increased data quality. For example, new central nervous system edits revealed that several facilities were coding meningiomas to brain (C71._) instead of meninges (C70._). A list of the erroneously coded cases was given to the facilities for correction, providing an educational opportunity.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
4770 Buford Hwy NE
MS K-64
Atlanta, GA 30341 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
8am–8pm ET
Monday–Friday
Closed on Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
