Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) Practice Exam

Which characteristic reflects the quality of data in cancer registries?

1. Timeliness

2. Volume of data collected

3. Accuracy

4. Accessibility

The correct answer is: Accuracy

The characteristic that reflects the quality of data in cancer registries is accuracy. Accuracy refers to how closely the data collected aligns with the true value or state of the information being recorded. In the context of cancer registries, accurate data is essential for effective treatment planning, patient outcomes analysis, and public health reporting. High accuracy ensures that cancer statistics are reliable, which is crucial for research, policy-making, and the development of cancer control strategies. When data is accurate, it means that patients are correctly identified, the type and stage of cancer are recorded properly, and treatment information is faithfully captured. This precision helps ensure that the registry serves its purpose of tracking cancer incidence, understanding trends over time, and ultimately improving patient care. While other characteristics such as timeliness, volume of data collected, and accessibility are also important for the overall function of a cancer registry, they do not directly reflect the quality of the data itself as strongly as accuracy does. Timeliness pertains to how quickly data is collected and reported, volume refers to the amount of data collected, and accessibility focuses on how easily the data can be accessed by stakeholders. However, if the data is not accurate, then its quality is compromised, regardless of how accessible, timely, or voluminous it may