Auditing a nationwide vascular registry--the 4-year Finnvasc experience. Finnvasc Study Group

• Published in: European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery 1997-12, Vol.14 (6), p.468-474
• Main Authors: Kantonen, I, Lepäntalo, M, Salenius, J P, Forsström, E, Hakkarainen, T, Huusari, H, Jaakkola, A, Kaarne, M, Kaartinen, P, Kivivuori, R, Kostiainen, S, Lehtonen, J, Loponen, P, Luther, M, Mäenpää, I, Nikula, P, Riekkinen, H, Rissanen, K, Vilkko, P, Ylönen, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Finland - epidemiology; Humans; Medical Audit; Quality Control; Registries - standards; Registries - statistics & numerical data; Reproducibility of Results; Vascular Surgical Procedures - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1078-5884

To assess the validity of a national vascular registry. 17,465 vascular and endovascular procedures, immediate reoperations excluded, registered in the Finnvasc registry from 26 centres during the years 1991-1994. Comparison of the number of registered procedures with hospital records, comparison of initial registrations with a random sample of re-registration and comparison of the 1-year local data input of one major centre to the same data input of the central unit. The rate of missing registrations was 19% ranging from 0-47%. The data of the re-registered forms were in agreement with the original data in 93% of all data points, the range being from 81-100%. There was a difference of 1.5% in the data between the major centre and the central unit. The Finnvasc registry makes it possible to audit vascular surgery nationally, although a potential limitation is centres with low registration rates.