Improving the quality of external cause of death data in Brazil

Evaluation and Validation of a New Form to Investigate Garbage Codes

Bibliographic Data

ID5166127
AuthorsAdauto Martins Soares Filho (0000-0002-0917-7473, Ministério da Saúde, Brazil; Universidade de Brasília, Brazil), Raquel Barbosa De Lima (0000-0002-1131-5409, Ministério da Saúde, Brazil), Edgar Merchan-Hamann (0000-0001-6775-9466, Universidade de Brasília), Maria De Fátima Marinho De Souza (0000-0003-3287-9163, Universidade de São Paulo), Line Mikkelsen (0000-0001-6433-3697, The University of Melbourne), Pasyodun Koralage Buddhika Mahesh (0000-0002-9037-5142, The University of Melbourne), Tim Adair (0000-0002-1562-4452, The University of Melbourne, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume39
Issue3
Pagese00097222-e00097222
Publication date2023-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCadernos de Saude Publica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0102-311X • E-ISSN: 1678-4464
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/0102-311xen097222
PMID37018771
OpenAlexW4362499358
SCIELO_PIDS0102-311X2023000305003
LanguageEN
References cited24

Garbage codes, such as external causes with no specific information, indicate poor quality cause of death data. Investigation of garbage codes via an effective instrument is necessary to convert them into useful data for public health. This study analyzed the performance and suitability of the new investigation of deaths from external causes (IDEC) form to improve the quality of external cause of death data in Brazil. The performance of the IDEC form on 133 external garbage codes deaths was compared with a stratified matched sample of 992 (16%) investigated deaths that used the standard garbage codes form. Consistency between these two groups was checked. The percentage of garbage codes from external causes reclassified into valid causes with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was analyzed. Reclassification for specific causes has been described. Qualitative data on the feasibility of the form were recorded by field investigators. Investigation using the new form reduced all external garbage codes by -92.5% (95%CI: -97.0; -88.0), whereas the existing form decreased garbage codes by -60.5% (95%CI: -63.5; -57.4). The IDEC form presented higher effectivity for external-cause garbage codes of determined intent. Deaths that remained garbage codes mainly lacked information about the circumstances of poisoning and/or vehicle accidents. Despite the fact that field investigators considered the IDEC form feasible, they suggested modifications for further improvement. The new form was more effective than the current standard form in improving the quality of defined external causes

Consistency (knowledge bases) · Database · Environmental health · Garbage · Quality (philosophy) · Statistics · Artificial Intelligence · Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes · Computer Science · Injury Epidemiology and Prevention · Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare · Mathematics · Medicine

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