Evaluation of Melanoma and Bladder Cancers in New Hampshire to Identify Registrar Training Needs.

Abstract

Background: The New Hampshire State Cancer Registry (NHSCR) conducts recoding audits as resources allow to identify areas for quality improvement. Utilizing the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) data quality evaluation (DQE) framework, the NHSCR conducted a selective recoding audit for melanoma of skin and bladder cancers diagnosed in 2018 to identify challenges and implement training for hospital registrars.

Purpose: The DQE can help determine whether central registries need to incorporate additional training for their reporters.

Methods: The NHSCR performed a recoding audit on random samples of melanomas of skin and urinary bladder cancers diagnosed in 2018. The audit included a review of data items with the lowest accuracy found on the national DQE and 3 additional data items recommended for review based on the national DQE findings.

Results: Accuracy rates were calculated on the quality of data items after performing follow-back to reporting sources to address discrepancies that were identified. Data items for melanomas of skin included tumor size summary, date of first course treatment, and treatment summary-surgery of primary site. Data items for urinary bladder cancers included grade clinical and grade pathological. The 3 additional data items include diagnosis date, histology, and date of first surgical procedure.

Discussion: Results from the recoding audit will be used to address training needs for New Hampshire cancer registrars.