Enhancing Mortality Data Accuracy: Outcomes from a collaborative national workshop in Oman

Mortality data is essential for global health policy and sustainable development goals, yet errors in death notifications, often exceeding 50%, challenge its accuracy. This is largely due to the lack of formal training among physicians and medical coders in issuing death notifications. This study conducting a national educational intervention and aimed to assess the outcomes of the intervention.

A 2-day workshop was held in Oman in June 2023 for physicians and medical coders, employing a pre- and post-assessment design. The training, developed by both international and national experts, covered aspects of mortality data quality, based on the International Form of Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and validated by the World Health Organization. The curriculum focused on correctly defining and sequencing the causes of death and identifying common certification errors.

A total of 39 individuals, including doctors (59%) and medical coders (41%), participated in the workshop. A comparison of pre- and post-workshop assessments revealed significant enhancements in understanding mortality data. The doctors generally outperformed the coders in these improvements. Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with approximately 80% strongly agreeing on the clarity and relevance of the content, as well as the engaging nature of activities and exercises.

The intervention significantly improved the quality of mortality data by enhancing the accuracy of death certifications. This success was achieved through a collaborative effort, highlighting the model's potential for future online modules to extend its reach. This study underscores the importance of structured training in enhancing the utility of mortality data, contributing to better health system evaluation and policy-making.