6: Data Quality and Utility
Improve the utility and quality of CPSC's data through 2009 Other Information:
THE PROGRAM Improvements in the overall ut ility and quality of CPSC data are necessary for the Commission to focus its limited
resources effectively. To improve the utility of the data, we will more systematically review and analyze death and injury
data and identify areas where more information must be obtained in order to develop effective strategies to reduce deaths
and injuries. In addition, the quality of in-house databases that track CPSC’s activities needs to be upgraded and better
maintained. Failure to improve these basic operations could result in a reduction in our ability to analyze and prioritize
product hazards. Data Utility. Each year CPSC collects incident information involving consumer products: 8,700 death certificates,
360,000 hospital emergency room reports of injuries, 5,000 newsclips, and 10,000 other reports of incidents involving consumer
products. Incidents are screened on a daily basis and routinely summarized. Selected incident information is expanded by conducting
follow-up investigations of individual incidents, eithe r by telephone or through onsite visits. These follow-up investigations
provide an opportunity to examine the interaction between the product involved in the incident, the environment in which the
incident occurred, and the injured person. While these methods have worked effectively in the past, increasingly limited resources
require that we target agency efforts more systematically and prioritize our efforts. Staff plans to develop and implement
a new data review system that will identify promising strategic goal areas and/or hazard reduction projects for future incorporation
into our strategic planning process and daily operations. CPSC plans to begin systematic reviews of death and injury data
and associated cost data by hazard area. We plan to do this by product grouping (heating, cooking, ventilating; general household
appliances; nursery equipment; home workshop tools, etc.) beginning in 2004. We anticipate reviewing one product grouping
per quarter, four per year. We also plan to conduct special studies in areas identified by the strategic planning process,
data reviews or other staff activity. These studies could include, for example, analyses of nursery products, powered workshop
and yard equipment, mechanical hazards to seniors, and head injuries to adults. Finally, we will continue to screen all incoming
data daily to identify products that may be associated with increasing numbers of injuries. In addition, we will investigate,
in partnership with other federal agencies, the possibility of deve loping a database related to the health effects of exposure
to chemical and biological hazards associated with consumer products to help us identify products that might be hazardous.
Data Quality refers to the accuracy and reliability of data held within our computer systems: can we identify the source of
the data, has the data been entered accurately, is it internally consistent and complete, is the same data used by all groups
within the agency, is the data secure? While most of CPSC’s data systems already meet these standards, some may not. To improve
data quality in these areas, we will need to determine exactly what problems exist and find data quality tools, policies and
processes to improve these systems. CPSC plans to evaluate at least one major data system in 2004. We hope to identify remedial
strategies and will seek to acquire needed software and/or hardware in 2005. We plan to implement changes beginning in 2006.
Evaluation of other data systems could begin as early as 2005, depending on availability of resources. STRATEGIES There are
a number of effective strategies for improving data utility and quality. They are: · Conduct hazard overviews of death, injury
and incident data. · Conduct special studies such as those using telephone interviews and onsite investigations to determine
the circumstances surrounding the injuries or deaths. · Continue daily screening of all incoming data. · Assess the quality
of CPSC's internal databases. · Benchmark data quality tools, policies and processes in other governmental and commercial
organizations. · Assess the strategies and effort required to integrate CPSC's databases. · Define a plan for creating tools,
policies and procedures for data quality control and quality assurance. · Develop applications to centralize data processing
and perform quality control checks. · Develop standard operating procedures in each office toward achieving data quality.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES We expect to develop and implement a systematic hazard review system by 2004. We will measure the success
of this new system through its identification of new strategic goal areas, hazard reduction projects and/or remedial actions.
Currently, we plan to develop baseline data for improving the accuracy, consistency, security, and completeness of CPSC's
data. The number of database errors, including omissions of relevant data, will measure quality of the data. SETTING THE STRATEGIC
GOAL Setting the target for data quality will be determined after baseline data is developed in 2004.
Objective(s):
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