Data quality
Validation activities to assess, maintain and improve the quality of data provided to the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) by hospitals are an integral part of VPDC work. This complements and extends the checks built into the system.
1. Validation of Number of Births Reported to the VPDC (to ensure a form is received for each birth)
Each year a validation is undertaken to compare the number of births that are reported to the VPDC with the number of births at each hospital in the State. The most recent study (of births in 2004) has shown that 99.8% of all births in the State were reported to the VPDC.
2. Statewide Validation of Perinatal Data (to determine the quality and reliability of data)
Projects designed to determine the validity of our data are undertaken regularly. These projects compare the data recorded on the Perinatal Morbidity Statistics Form with data recorded in the medical record. They have been conducted in 1984, 1985, 1992, 1998 and 1999. Another study is currently underway. Most items are recorded reliably but some variables, including maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications and neonatal morbidity are under-reported.
3. Education and Liaison Program
Ongoing liaison between the VPDC and midwives is an integral part of maintaining high quality data. The liaison service is designed to:
- provide guidelines for data collection.
- provide information to enable midwives to understand how the data are collated and the importance of the quality and accuracy of the data that they provide to the VPDC.
- provide an opportunity for the VPDC and the midwives to communicate on an informal level.
This includes occasional seminars for midwives, at which users of the data present their projects.