The development of a comprehensive, institution-based XXXX risk evaluation program: II. Validity and reliability of questionnaire data.

@entity5 @entity1 @entity167
The accuracy of historical information derived from self-administered questionnaires must be confirmed. We report the results of studies conducted to assess the reliability and validity of data collected from a comprehensive @entity5 risk factor questionnaire developed at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson @entity5 Center. A comparison of the basic demographic data of a randomly selected sample of 80 respondents and 70 nonrespondents revealed no fundamental ethnic or socioeconomic differences. We verified self-reported past illnesses, surgical procedures, and @entity5 by reviewing 72 @entity1 charts, using stringent diagnostic criteria for verification. We noted substantial agreement between self-reported and documented illnesses and operations. With the exception of nine @entity1 who misclassified metastatic disease, the verification of primary @entity5 was excellent. We determined reliability by interviewing 50 of these @entity1 by telephone. Questions with a dichotomous outcome (e.g., smoking status) were reliably answered; however, those requiring quantification (e.g., amount of @entity167 consumed) were less accurately reported on interview. While we recognize the limitations of self-administered questionnaires, we believe this program will develop into a comprehensive, standardized, easily accessible @entity1 risk factor data base.
