Surveys: A Critical Tool in the NAACCR Steering Committee Toolbox

One of our most valuable resources here at NAACCR is you: the members of our community. We rely on your knowledge and expertise to inform the development of resources like the Discharge and Claims Data Best Practices Guide and the Death Clearance Manual. We seek your input on developing projects like the National Childhood Cancer Registry and the Virtual Pooled Registry. We also invite your feedback on initiatives like NAACCR’s strategic plan and future professional development needs. The mechanisms we employ for soliciting input run from discussions at committee meetings, NAACCR Coffee Breaks, town halls, and, on occasion, surveys.

NAACCR Surveys

Surveys allow NAACCR to reach a larger audience, including those who may not currently have the time to volunteer for committees or who aren’t able to attend a town hall meeting. This broader audience may provide a different perspective from those who participate with NAACCR in other ways.

For example, NAACCR conducted a survey of hospital cancer registrars as part of a project to assess the timeline for implementing software updates with new NAACCR data standards. Through the survey instrument, NAACCR was able to obtain critical insight from more than 200 registrars about hospital abstracting practices and the timing of software updates.

In another survey, NAACCR collaborated with the Commission on Cancer to collect information on how central registries use information coded in the Class of Case data item and how changes to Class of Case might impact central registries.

Survey Requests

Because surveys are a valuable tool in NAACCR’s toolbox, we want to ensure we use them effectively and judiciously. To that end, the NAACCR Steering Committee Guidelines now include a process for designing and implementing surveys. Lori Havener, Program Manager of Standards at NAACCR, serves as survey coordinator to review content, monitor frequency, and avoid overlap that may place undue burden on the audience being surveyed. A survey request form must be completed by any group seeking to conduct a survey through NAACCR. Requests should include a plan for analyzing and distributing the survey results to ensure the maximum benefit to our members.

NAACCR values the contributions of our members and the entire cancer surveillance community in helping us achieve the vision of Working together to make every cancer count. Be sure your voice is heard by responding to surveys seeking your expert input.