Abstract |
Recall bias was assessed in a study of cancers reported by persons living in a community with a hazardous waste treatment facility (A) and a control community (B). The self-reported cancers were verified against medical records and pathology reports. Of the 56 cancer cases reported, 43 were in community A and 13 were in community B. The difference in incorrect reporting of neoplasms between community A and community B was 12% for neoplasms and 23% for malignancies. Before verification, there was a borderline significant association (P = 0.049) between living in community A and all self-reported cancers [odds ratio (OR) 1.88, 95% confidence interval 0.99-3.57]. The verified data showed that ORs decreased with the increasing precision of diagnosis. The effect of misclassification on the OR was an inflation by 15% for neoplasms and by 31% for malignancies. The results demonstrate the importance of verifying reported cases of disease, even a disease as well defined as cancer.
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Authors | W E Kaye, H I Hall, J A Lybarger |
Journal | Annals of epidemiology
(Ann Epidemiol)
Vol. 4
Issue 5
Pg. 393-7
(Sep 1994)
ISSN: 1047-2797 [Print] United States |
PMID | 7981847
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Bias
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Cohort Studies
- Demography
- Environmental Exposure
- Female
- Hazardous Waste
- Humans
- Male
- Mental Recall
- Neoplasms
(chemically induced, classification, epidemiology)
- Odds Ratio
- Prevalence
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