--- title: "Accuracy of data of patients: race & ethnicity | Sutter Health" description: "To describe data collection methods and to audit staff data entry of patient self-reported race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language information." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/data-entry-of-pt-race-language-in-primary-care-1055312548" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Accuracy of data of patients: race & ethnicity # Accuracy of data entry of patient race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language in an ambulatory care setting. Azar KM, Moreno MR, Wong EC, Shin JJ, Soto C, & Palaniappan LP. _Health Serv Res. 47(1 Pt 1):228-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01305_ 2011-08-24 ## Abstract ****OBJECTIVE:**** To describe data collection methods and to audit staff data entry of patient self-reported race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language (R/E/A/L) information. ****DATA SOURCE/STUDY SETTING:**** Large mixed payer outpatient health care organization in Northern California, June 2009. ****STUDY DESIGN:**** Secondary analysis of an audit planned and executed by the Department of Clinical Services. ****DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS:**** We analyzed concordance between patient written responses and staff data entry. ****PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:**** The data entry accuracy rate across questions was high, ranging from 92 to 97 percent. Inaccuracies were due to human error (62 percent), flaws in system design (2 percent), or some combination of both (35 percent). ****CONCLUSIONS:**** This study highlights the high accuracy of patient self-reported R/E/A/L data entry and identifies some areas for improvement in staff training and technical system design to facilitate further progress. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Accuracy+of+data+entry+of+patient+race%2Fethnicity%2Fancest) ![Kristen M J Azar, RN, MSN, MPH](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/rFmyR1kiX8JzE5-XNwup0gVC1GRaVTlH7oSDlG0Tr5A/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Kristen M J Azar, RN, MSN, MPH Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/kristen-m-j-azar-rn-msn-mph-1049680985) ## Research topics - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Creating a “Zone of Openness” at the Doctor’s Office.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/create-a-zone-of-openness-at-the-doctors-office-1055312775) Tai-Seale M. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute website. 2013 Sep 10 - Publication ### [Nurses' perspectives on Lean redesigns to patient flow and inpatient discharge process efficiency.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/nurses-perspectives-on-lean-redesigns-1055312406) Nicosia FM, Park LG, Gray CP, Yakir MJ, Hung DY. Glob Qual Nurs Res. 5:2333393618810658. doi: 10.1177/2333393618810658. eCollection 2018 Jan-Dec. 2018 Nov 20 - Publication ### [Experiences of primary care physicians and staff following Lean workflow redesign.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pcp-and-staff-experiences-with-lean-workflow-redesign-1055312311) Hung DY, Harrison MI, Truong Q, Du X. BMC Health Serv Res. 18(1):274. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3062-5. 2018 Apr 10 - Publication ### [The language of engagement: "aha!" moments from engaging patients and community partners in two pilot projects of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/engaging-pts-community-two-pcori-pilot-projects-1055312382) Tai-Seale M, Sullivan G, Cheney A, Thomas K, Frosch D. Perm J. 20(2). doi: 10.7812/TPP/15-123. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2016 Feb 22 - Publication ### [Framework for research on implementation of process redesigns.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/framework-research-on-implementation-of-process-redesign-1055312348) Ashok M, Hung D, Rojas-Smith L, Halpern MT, Harrison M. Qual Manag Health Care. 27(1):17-23. doi: 10.1097/QMH.0000000000000158. 2018 Jan 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/data-entry-of-pt-race-language-in-primary-care-1055312548#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Accuracy of data of patients: race & ethnicity"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/data-entry-of-pt-race-language-in-primary-care-1055312548#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Accuracy of data entry of patient race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language in an ambulatory care setting.","headline":"Accuracy of data of patients: race & ethnicity","abstract":"OBJECTIVE: To describe data collection methods and to audit staff data entry of patient self-reported race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language (R/E/A/L) information. DATA SOURCE/STUDY SETTING: Large mixed payer outpatient health care organization in Northern California, June 2009. STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of an audit planned and executed by the Department of Clinical Services. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: We analyzed concordance between patient written responses and staff data entry. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The data entry accuracy rate across questions was high, ranging from 92 to 97 percent. Inaccuracies were due to human error (62 percent), flaws in system design (2 percent), or some combination of both (35 percent). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the high accuracy of patient self-reported R/E/A/L data entry and identifies some areas for improvement in staff training and technical system design to facilitate further progress.","description":"To describe data collection methods and to audit staff data entry of patient self-reported race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language information.","keywords":["Health Services"],"datePublished":"2011-08-24","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/data-entry-of-pt-race-language-in-primary-care-1055312548","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"DOI","value":"10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01305"}],"sameAs":["https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01305"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Health Serv Res"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/kristen-m-j-azar-rn-msn-mph-1049680985","name":"Azar KM","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/kristen-m-j-azar-rn-msn-mph-1049680985"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Moreno MR"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Wong EC"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Shin JJ"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Soto C"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Palaniappan LP"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Health Services","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Health+Services%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/data-entry-of-pt-race-language-in-primary-care-1055312548","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/data-entry-of-pt-race-language-in-primary-care-1055312548#breadcrumblist"}}} ```