View in EDS PDF Full Text

Studying Patterns of Cancer Care: How Useful is the Medical Record?

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Studying Patterns of Cancer Care: How Useful is the Medical Record?
Authors: Feigl, Polly, Glaefke, Gwen, Ford, Leslie, Diehr, Paula, Chu, Joe
Source: American Journal of Public Health. May88, Vol. 78 Issue 5, p526-533. 8p.
Subjects: Medical records, Cancer patients, Medical care, Community centers, Oncology nursing, Oncologic surgery, Cancer pathophysiology, Cancer diagnosis, Radiotherapy, Hospital records
Abstract: Records of hospital inpatients were abstracted for 5,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients admitted in 1982-83 to 17 Comprehensive Cancer Centers and 17 Community Hospital Oncology Programs. Generally available data items (silent record rate less than 5 per cent for the typical institution) included: age, race, sex, dates of hospitalization, zip code of residence, pathological stage, dates of biopsy and surgery, numbers of nodes examined and positive, certain diagnostic procedures, and some radiotherapy descriptors. For other data items, there was enormous variability in completeness and high institution-to-institution variation. Record completeness did not differ consistently between comprehensive and community cancer centers. We conclude that the hospital patient record is useful for tracking the frequency of surgical and related events. However, studies of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures should not rely solely on the hospital medical record due to the high rates of silent records. INSET: Medical Literature at Risk of Deterioration from Acid in Paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of American Journal of Public Health is the property of American Public Health Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:Records of hospital inpatients were abstracted for 5,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients admitted in 1982-83 to 17 Comprehensive Cancer Centers and 17 Community Hospital Oncology Programs. Generally available data items (silent record rate less than 5 per cent for the typical institution) included: age, race, sex, dates of hospitalization, zip code of residence, pathological stage, dates of biopsy and surgery, numbers of nodes examined and positive, certain diagnostic procedures, and some radiotherapy descriptors. For other data items, there was enormous variability in completeness and high institution-to-institution variation. Record completeness did not differ consistently between comprehensive and community cancer centers. We conclude that the hospital patient record is useful for tracking the frequency of surgical and related events. However, studies of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures should not rely solely on the hospital medical record due to the high rates of silent records. INSET: Medical Literature at Risk of Deterioration from Acid in Paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00900036
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.78.5.526