Data quality of a computerized medical birth registry

Processed by a computerized medical birth registry system, the birth records of 20,103 deliveries, from February 1992 to February 1993, were digitized with medium registry. From 1 January to 28 February 1993, the original records (n = 2840 cases) of all 10 collaborative hospitals were requested for assessment of data quality. Thirty-six items were scored, data of poor quality was found in eight; acceptable quality in four; and good quality in 28. The feasibility of data transfer by floppy disc and per modem was evaluated. This registry system had effectively shortened data processing time and improved mutual feedback between the data centre and the delivery units. Errors resulting from technical faults originating in the preparation of data for computerization at hospital level could be effectively reduced. The validity of diagnosis remained as the major source of errors.