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. 2022 Spring;49(1):10-16.

Operational Characteristics of Central Cancer Registries that Support the Generation of High-Quality Surveillance Data

Patrick Edwards  1 , Amarilys Bernacet  1 , Florence K L Tangka  2 , Paran Pordell  2 , Jenny Beizer  1 , Reda Wilson  2 , Wendy Blumenthal  2 , Sandra F Jones  2 , Maggie Cole-Beebe  1 , Sujha Subramanian  1
Affiliations

Operational Characteristics of Central Cancer Registries that Support the Generation of High-Quality Surveillance Data

Patrick Edwards et al. J Registry Manag. 2022 Spring.

Abstract

Objectives: We aim to assess external and internal attributes and operations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) central cancer registries by their consistency in meeting national data quality standards.

Methods: The NPCR 2017 Program Evaluation Instrument (PEI) data were used to assess registry operational attributes, including adoption of electronic reporting, compliance with reporting, staffing, and software used among 46 NPCR registries. These factors were stratified by (1) registries that met the NPCR 12-month standards for all years 2014-2017; (2) registries that met the NPCR 12-month standards at least once in 2014-2017 and met the NPCR 24-month standards for all years 2014-2017; and (3) registries that did not meet the NPCR 24-month standards for all years 2014-2017. Statistical tests helped identify significant differences among registries that consistently, sometimes, or seldom/never achieved data standards.

Results: Registries that always met the standards had a higher level of electronic reporting and a higher compliance with reporting among hospitals than registries that sometimes or seldom/never met the standards. Although not a statistically significant finding, the same registries also had a higher proportion of staffing positions filled, a higher proportion of certified tumor registrars, and more quality assurance and information technology staff.

Conclusions: This information may be used to understand the importance of various factors and characteristics, including the adoption of electronic reporting, that may be associated with a registry's ability to consistently meet NPCR standards. The findings may be helpful in identifying best practices for processing high-quality cancer data.

Keywords: cancer data; cancer registries; data modernization.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Average Electronic Data Adoption and Compliance with Reporting in 2017 by Achievement of National Program of Cancer Registries Data Quality and Reporting Standards
Figure 2
Figure 2
Average Percent Staffing and Median Staffing for Selected Positions by Achievement of National Program of Cancer Registries Data Quality and Reporting Standards, 2017
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage of Registry Software Use by Achievement of National Program of Cancer Registries Data Quality and Reporting Standards, 2017
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percentage of Registries with Early Case Capture by Achievement of National Program of Cancer Registries Data Quality and Reporting Standards, 2017
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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