[External causes of accidents. How do the new registration rules function?].

Area of Science:

• Health informatics
• Medical coding systems
• Patient registration data

Context:

• A new Danish codification system replaced the E-codification system in 1987.
• The study evaluated the effectiveness of this new system by comparing two parallel patient registers.
• Data was collected over one year (1987) from an orthopedic department, involving 1,475 patients.

Purpose:

• To investigate the functional performance of Denmark's new codification system.
• To assess the system's utility as a tool for registering external causes of injury.
• To evaluate its role in healthcare resource planning and management.

Summary:

• Complete agreement between two parallel registers was achieved for only 53% of patients.
• This indicates significant discrepancies in data recording under the new system.
• The findings highlight issues with the current registration process and data accuracy.

Impact:

• The study underscores the necessity for comprehensive training for registration personnel.
• Current registration practices only partially fulfill their intended purpose in healthcare.
• Improved data quality is crucial for effective healthcare system management and injury surveillance.