Introduction | Principles | Data Entry | Coding Reference | Quality Reviews

Dimensions of Data Quality

1. Completeness
   
   Verification that all mandatory data fields are complete
   
   Internal edits are implemented in the local case management or court systems to ensure that a case can not be closed unless all mandatory data fields have been coded.
   
   
   • all applicable data fields coded (includes mandatory and optional fields)
   • coding is done using the appropriate codeset and in the appropriate format
   
   
   
2. Comprehensiveness
   
   Verification that the coding gives a complete representation of who, when, where, how and why the deceased was injured and died
   
   Using available documents, such as the autopsy report and coronial finding, the NCIS Quality Team ensures that the necessary information is coded appropriately, this includes details of the :
   
   
   • basic demographic data of the deceased;
   • date, time and location of the incident and death;
   • activity the deceased was involved in at the time of the incident;
   • how the deceased was injured, mechanisms and objects or substances involved;
   • other contributing factors, mechanisms, objects or substances
   
   
3. Relevance
   
   Verification that only contributing mechanisms, objects, modes of transport etc are coded
   
   

   Using available documents, such as the autopsy report and coronial finding, the NCIS Quality Team ensures that only contributing mechanisms, objects, substances are included in the coding of the case

   Any injuries sustained after death or that do not contribute to death are not to be coded into NCIS.

   For example: post mortem determines that the deceased died from the blunt force injuries resulting from the initial impact of a motor vehicle crash and was deceased before the vehicle burst into flames, no evidence of breathing smoke, ash or fire. There is no need to code out the contact with fire, flame and smoke as this contact did not contribute to the death and is therefore irrelevant to the cause of death.

    

4. Reliability
   
   Verification of consistency in national coding, ensuring all jurisdictions are comparable
   
   

   The use of programmed edits and protocols ensures that the same assessment is made of every case audited by the Quality Team, regardless of the jurisdiction, case type, date of assessment or auditor.

   The recommendations and amendments requested by the Quality Team are generated from a pro forma that ensures that each jurisdiction is alerted to an error in a similar manner, with deviations being made only to allow for case differences.

   NCIS Coding must be reliable and consistent across and within all jurisdictions. Often the results of a search are dependent on the consistent coding of a specific mechanism or object. For this purpose we must ensure that all cases involving similar mechanisms of death are coded the same way.

   For example: All gunshot wounds are coded as:

   Mechanism of Injury – Level 1: Piercing, Penetrating Force
   Mechanism of Injury – Level 2: Puncturing, Stabbing
   Mechanism of Injury – Level 3: Shot by firearm

   Consistent coding ensures that one search of the mechanism of injury data fields will return all deaths involving a gunshot wound.

    

5. Validity
   
   Verification that coding is a true reflection of the case file, reports and coroners findings
   
   

   Each NCIS case is audited based on the information available at the time of the audit. Available documents are limited to those attached to a case file which will include the:

   • police investigation summary;
   • autopsy report;
   • toxicology report; and
   • coronial finding.
   
   

   In circumstances when the documentation does not support the NCIS coding or the documentation is not available to the Quality Team for review, the case were will referred to the appropriate jurisdiction for further assessment using the entire case file.

    

6. Contemporary
   
   Verification that the status of each case is appropriate (all completed cases reported as closed)
   
   

   Analysis of the NCIS is performed to ensure that all appropriate cases have been closed on the system. The primary indicator of the suitability to close a case is the issuing and attachment of a coronial finding.

   Introduction | Principles | Data Entry | Coding Reference | Quality Reviews