Codability of Industry and Occupation Information from Cancer Registry Records: Differences by Patient Demographics, Casefinding Source, Payor, and Cancer Type

Introduction: Industry and occupation (I&O) information collected by central cancer registries areis useful for assessing associations among jobs and malignancies. However, systematic differences in I&O availablility can affect study findings. Methods: Codability by patient demographics, payor, identifying (casefinding) source, and cancer site was assessed using I&O text from first primary cancers diagnosed 2011-2012 and reported to the California Cancer Registry. I&O were coded to a U.S. Census code or classified as blank/inadequate/unknown, retired, or not working for pay. Results: Industry was codable for 37% of cases butand blank/inadequate/unknown for 50%; another 9% had “retired” instead of usual industry. Cases initially reported by hospital sources, covered by preferred provider organizations, or with known occupational etiology (e.g. mesothelioma) were most likely andto have codable industry, while cases initially reported by private pathology laboratories, Medicaid-covered cases, and malignancies frequently diagnosed in outpatient settings (e.g. melanoma) were least likely to have codable industry. Results were similar for occupation. Conclusions: Recording usual I&O for retirees and finding additional sources for cases reported by entities without direct patient access would improve I&O codability and the validity of research findings.