An organization that raises funds for cancer research has used mortality date from death certificates to identify a county near you that has an extraordinary high rate of cancer deaths.
The findings do not seem to match the cancer incident findings from the statewide cancer registry that captures data based on the location where the cancer was diagnosed. Further investigation shows that the only inpatient hospice in the state is located in that county.
1. What most likely accounts for the discrepancy between the cancer rates that the fundraising organization found and the cancer rates indicated by the statewide cancer registry for that county?
2. What recommendations might be made to the fundraising organization by the statewide cancer registry?
3. How can statewide cancer registries interact with private, non-profit groups seeking to locate areas for intervention?