THE ACCURACY OF RECORDING OF OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY IN PATIENTS WITH BLADDER-CANCER

Objective To determine how accurately information on the occupations o f patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC) was r ecorded, Patients and methods Using a semi-structured interview and a standard proforma, 108 patients with TCC of the urinary tract were stu died and the results compared with records in their case notes. Result s Case notes were substantially correct in only 39% of patients, Occup ations that might have been a significant factor in the aetiology of T CC were omitted in 71% of potentially exposed male patients and no occ upational history was recorded in 12% of all patients. Conclusions Imp ortant clinical information was missing from the case notes that might have been of practical use in determining whether patients might be e ligible for financial redress and which might be of use in future clin ical research, It is recommended that details of occupational history should be taken using a structured proforma; this could be a suitable topic for regular audit.