On the Coding and Reporting of Race and Ethnicity in New Hampshire for Purposes of Cancer Reporting

The objective was to investigate how data on race and ethnicity are collected by hospitals reporting to the New Hampshire State Cancer Registry (NHSCR). NHSCR surveyed hospitals asking how information on race and ethnicity were collected. A review of relevant legal mandates and national guidelines was undertaken. Many hospitals lack policies on collection, computer systems fail to support national guidelines, and staff rely on visual inspection. Hospital staffs are not now culturally equipped to collect race and ethnicity in a meaningful way. The numerator in cancer incidence rates is most likely not accurate and for some smaller populations very biased. A new framework is needed that takes into account the needs of the democracy.