Place of Occurrence of Injury Events in New Zealand Compared with the Available ICD Codes

John D. Langley; David J. Chalmers

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1635554

Methods of Information in Medicine, Table of Contents

Methods Inf Med 1989; 28(02): 109-113
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1635554

Original Article

Schattauer GmbH

Place of Occurrence of Injury Events in New Zealand Compared with the Available ICD Codes

Authors

John D. Langley

¹Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
David J. Chalmers

¹Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Abstract

Abstract:

The distribution of the place of occurrence of selected injury events in New Zealand was compared with the allocation of place of occurrence codes in the International Classification of Disease (ICD). National injury mortality and morbidity data for 1984 were upgraded to provide more specific information on the location of injury events than is allowed by the ICD codes. This highlighted a number of shortcomings in the ICD codes. For example, whereas only 0.1% of the injury morbidity occurred in a mine or quarry, 57 times that amount occurred on a rugby league ground. Despite this, mines and quarries have a unique code and rugby grounds are included under the general code “place for recreation and sport”. Several modifications to existing codes are proposed. The lack of mutually exclusive categories, the confusion of activity with place of occurrence, and restrictions in the recommended use of the codes are discussed.

Key-Words:

ICD - Injury - Place of Occurrence

Full Text

References

REFERENCES
1 Langley J D. Frequency of injury events in New Zealand compared with the distribution of E-codes. Meth. Inform. Med 1987; 26: 89-92.
2 World Health Organization: International Classification of Diseases. . Geneva: World Health Organization; 1977
3 Department of Health: Hospital and Selected Morbidity Data 1984. Wellington: Department of Health; 1985
4 Chalmers D J, Langley J D. Childhood falls from playground equipment resulting in admission to hospital: Descriptive epidemiology. In Sime J. (Hrsg.) Safety in the Built Environment. . London: E. and F. N. Spon; 1988