SEER data collection includes linkages and electronic data capture. True or False?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Partly true
• D. Not specified

Answer: (A)

SEER data collection involves both linking to external data sources and capturing data electronically, which together enhance completeness and accuracy. Linking to mortality data (such as the National Death Index) and other datasets (like Medicare/Medicaid claims and hospital records) allows SEER to verify vital status, augment treatment and outcome information, and cross-check tumor details across sources. Electronic data capture streamlines the collection of data from participating facilities, standardizes coding, and speeds up updates, helping maintain consistent fields for patient demographics, tumor characteristics, stage, treatment, and survival. This combination—linkages to other data sources plus electronic data capture—is what makes the SEER data collection robust and capable of providing reliable cancer incidence and outcome information.