Validity of self-reported cancer history: A comparison of health interviewdata and cancer registry records

Few studies have addressed the accuracy of self-reported cancer history, al though epidemiologic studies routinely use self-reported information as the sole source of exposure or outcome data or as a criterion for exclusion fr om study participation. In this paper, false-negative reporting of cancer h istory is examined in a community-based sample by comparing interview data with tumor registry records, subjects were participants in the 1980 New Hav en Epidemiologic Catchment Area study; in 1995, cancer records (from 1935 o nward) were obtained by linking the sample to the Connecticut Tumor Registr y. Analyses focused on 263 individuals who had at least one tumor reported to the Connecticut Tumor Registry prior to participation in the Epidemiolog ic Catchment Area study. The overall rate of false-negative reporting was 3 9.2%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that false-negative reporting w as significantly associated with non-White rack, older age, increased time since cancer diagnosis, number of previous tumors, and type of cancer treat ment received. In addition, false-negative reporting varied widely by cance r site, ranging from 0% for melanoma skin cancer to 83.3% for central nervo us system cancers. The false-negative rate for breast cancer was 20.8%, tha t for colon and prostate cancers was 42.1%, and that for bladder cancer was 61.5%. Implications of these findings for prevalence estimation and future epidemiologic studies are discussed.