Data quality at the Singapore Cancer Registry: An overview of comparability, completeness, validity and timeliness

• The Singapore Cancer Registry (SCR) is a population-based national registry, and this review shows that the data is internationally comparable, relatively complete, valid, and timely.
• Quantitative and semi-quantitative methods were used to assess the main aspects of data quality.
• A high quality of data is critical for guiding policy direction and research, and allows for greater confidence in the use of data in the areas of cancer prevention, treatment and control.

AimTo provide a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of the data at the Singapore Cancer Registry (SCR).MethodsQuantitative and semi-quantitative methods were used to assess the comparability, completeness, accuracy and timeliness of data for the period of 1968–2013, with focus on the period 2008–2012.ResultsThe SCR coding and classification systems follow international standards. The overall completeness was estimated at 98.1% using the flow method and 97.5% using the capture-recapture method, for the period of 2008–2012. For the same period, 91.9% of the cases were morphologically verified (site-specific range: 40.4–100%) with 1.1% DCO cases. The under-reporting in 2011 and 2012 due to timely publication was estimated at 0.03% and 0.51% respectively.ConclusionThis review shows that the processes in place at the SCR yields data which are internationally comparable, relatively complete, valid, and timely, allowing for greater confidence in the use of quality data in the areas of cancer prevention, treatment and control.