Accuracy Rate of the Demographic Data Registered for Patients with Thyroid Cancer in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences: A Cross-sectional Study Based on Cancer Registry Data of 2010-2016

Thyroid cancer has always been considered as the most common endocrine malignancy. Women in Isfahan Province were ranked first in thyroid cancer in Iran in 2009. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the demographic data registered for women with thyroid cancer in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences during 2006-2010. This cross-sectional study was based on registered data. Data collection was performed using output of cancer registry software that contains information including type of cancer and patients' demographic characteristics in the form of an Excel file. Data were analyzed by using frequency distribution table, percentage and mean, as well as z-test to compare proportions.

Findings: The accuracy rates of registration of age, name, surname, father's name, province and country of residence of the patients were 82.28%, 99.31%, 98.66%, 98.47%, 95.74%, and 93.87%, respectively. In terms of accuracy of registration of name (P = 0.044), surname (P = 0.0046), age, father’s name, province, and country of residence (P <0.001), there were significant differences at the 5% level of error with the full coverage of registration accuracy index.

Discussion & conclusions: The accuracy of the recorded information for women with thyroid cancer was acceptable in comparison with similar studies and national average. Considering that burden of cancer over the next few years is predicted to increase, high standards in cancer registry program should be maintained by boosting hardware and software resources for patients and staff as well as continuing education.