# Presentation: 213705

## A training package on certification of causes of death for European professionals 

**Monica Pace**
*ISTAT - Italian National Institute of Statistics,*
*Central Directorate on Social Statistics*
*- “Management of Health Classifications” Unit - *
_**mopace@istat.it**_

**WHO-FIC Education Committee**
**WHO-FIC – IFHRO Joint Committee**
**Alexandria, Virginia**
**May 4-6, 2006**

## The Project “Development of an EU training package on certification of causes of death” 

-  Leader Institution: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics)
-  Duration: 18 months (Dec 2002 – June 2004)
-  Involved countries: all EU 15 Member States, EEA/EFTA (European Economic Area / European Free Trade Association) countries and CEEC (Central and 	Eastern Europe Countries: Candidate Countries and 	Western Balkan Countries or CARDS Countries) for a total of 40 countries/regions.
-  The training package has been adopted  by the “Eurostat Technical Meeting on causes of death (CoD) statistics” in October 2004.
- The “Eurostat Working Group on Public Health Statistics” has expressed its support to the implementation and use of the EU training package.
-  Member States should now take action for national adaptation, translation and use of the tool.

**The Project “Development of an EU training package on certification of causes of death” **

## Project Aims

- To provide a common training background for European physicians in the completion of the medical part of death certificate
- To address to CoD certifying professionals and students, by recognizing their central role in the mortality data production
- To comply with the WHO guidelines and EUROSTAT CoD  task force recommendations.
- To develop a strong interaction with all the participating countries on the products’ structure and contents
- To develop generalized products requiring subsequent national adaptations by each country to own certificate’ format, certification practices and laws.

## Project outputs

** ****Technical report**** (English)**** **
** ****Manual**** (English and French)**
** ****Web-based e-learning tool**** (English)**** **
** ****Leaflet**** (English and French)**

## Technical Report in pills

- Experts from 40 countries/regions; 37 of these sent answers back
- Review of existing training tools:
- 9 manuals or booklets
- 4 web-sites
- 6 leaflets
- Collection of 340 published studies
- Collection of 23 original national death certificates

**Technical Report in pills**

## Survey on EU certification practices and harmonization

**80% of the c-r agree on the need to collect more details on autopsies **
**78% have at least a question on autopsy**
**70% collect information on “place of accident”**
**65% receive certificates without any medical information**
**57% collect information on “occupational accident or disease”**
**51% believe that the role of Part II of the certificate, or an item on other significant conditions contributing to the death, is not well understood by physicians**
**27% collect information on pregnancy**
**24% collect information on recent surgery**
**81% of the countries/regions consider European harmonization feasible **
**78% consider European harmonization necessary **

## Survey on training practices

- 97% of the countries/regions are unsatisfied by the training courses for physicians  (31/32)
- 65% believe that the guidelines they use need to be improved
- 67% declare to have training for students
- 77% are unsatisfied by the training courses for students (24/31)
- 36% declare to have training for physicians/certifying professionals
- Almost all the experts agree that the following items should be included in the training (see Techn. Rep. for a complete list):
- an explanation of causes of death data as a major public health indicator;
- the concept of the causes of death sequence and the selection of the initial cause;
- a list of imprecise causes to avoid;
- examples presentation;
- the problem of contributory causes;
- practical training of the real case studies and feedback on answers

## MANUAL contact person at Eurostat:Sabine.GAGEL@cec.eu.int 

## Manual main features

_**5 Chapters:**_** **
- Introduction
- definitions and best practices
- external causes of death
- 54 correctly completed case histories
- glossary
- list of imprecise causes and hints on how to improve specificity
_**4 Annexes:**_
- National Mortality data flow (to be adapted)
- Eurostat recommendations
- National laws on vital statistics (to be adapted)
- Short guide to National implementation
_**8 Boxes:**_
- five boxes on best certification practices
- one box on how to report neoplasm
- two more boxes on external causes of death (traffic accidents and accidents in medical care)

## Particular attention was addressed on the need to adapt the manual to the National laws and regulations: for this purpose “warnings” or specific notes were added where needed

The inclusion of additional information (pregnancy, place of death, place of accident, manner of death, autopsies, etc...) in a new training package for Europe represents a factual effort in giving a common basis for European certification criteria, fulfilling international guidelines and making an effort to put European-agreed recommendations into practice. These information were presented into the manual as an “additional information box” added below the WHO form. Each country should decide how to deal with such a box, based upon National needs.

Several reference-marks to specific case histories were included into the fluent text, into the boxes and into the last chapter too in order to provide examples of well-completed death certificates for each item treated in the manual

Flexibility to the manual implementation was introduced by the two-levels of detail offered.... 

- The inclusion of additional information (pregnancy, place of death, place of accident, manner of death, autopsies, etc...) in a new training package for Europe represents a factual effort in giving a common basis for European certification criteria, fulfilling international guidelines and making an effort to put European-agreed recommendations into practice. These information were presented into the manual as an “additional information box” added below the WHO form. Each country should decide how to deal with such a box, based upon National needs.
- Several reference-marks to specific case histories were included into the fluent text, into the boxes and into the last chapter too in order to provide examples of well-completed death certificates for each item treated in the manual
- Flexibility to the manual implementation was introduced by the two-levels of detail offered....

- Implementation strategies I

## In fact, the manual can be fully translated/adapted in the extended version as it is now, or implemented in a basic condensed way which could include: 

introduction; 
national death certificate form;
six or eight “quick tips boxes” their number depending on National laws for certifying the external causes of death;
some case histories; 
general hints on how to add specificity on selected group of diseases or conditions;
annexes.

- introduction;
- national death certificate form;
- six or eight “quick tips boxes” their number depending on National laws for certifying the external causes of death;
- some case histories;
- general hints on how to add specificity on selected group of diseases or conditions;
- annexes.

- Implementation strategies II

## WEB-BASED E-LEARNING TOOLcontact person at Eurostat:Sabine.GAGEL@cec.eu.int 

## Some Web-based tool specific aspects

- Specific attention was devoted to e-learning aspects to organize the didactic pathways and some navigation options
- A balance between interactivity and usability was sought in order to provide a product using the web potentiality, but not excluding non-expert users
- The web-tool contents definition implied:
- an adaptation of what was already developed for the manual,
- the definition of new specifically developed funtionality; this is particularly true for the exercises (tests and case histories).
- Particular attention was given to the companion documentation (guides and helps) fully integrated into the web site, in order to facilitate the use and spreading of this product;
- A high level of parameterization was introduced in the product: the result is in our opinion a truly “generalized” product that allow easy national adaptations.
- Multiple evaluations of the web-tool were performed by about 50 different European professionals including physicians, medical schools professors, IT engineers, IT programmers, e-learning experts, statisticians, nosologists, represented by SB members, experts from Italy, England, Norway, Sweden; try-out responders; EUROSTAT experts.

## Web-tool main features

## Slide 15

## Tutorial: Introduction

**Tutorial: Introduction**

## Tutorial II: Multiple choice test

## Tutorial III: Multiple choice test

## Tutorial: Case History

**Tutorial: Case History**

## Tutorial: Case History

**Tutorial: Case History**

## Tools: Dynamic Certificate

**Tools: Dynamic Certificate**

## Tools: Hints on how to add specificity

**Tools: Hints on how to add specificity**

## Tools: Quick Tips

**Tools: Quick Tips**

## WEB-BASED E-LEARNING TOOL- ADMINISTRATION –contact person at Eurostat:Sabine.GAGEL@cec.eu.int 

## Local Administrator: Home 

- Local Administrator: Home

## Local Administrator: Load and define D. C. - I

## Local Administrator: Load and define D. C. - II

## LEAFLET contact person at Eurostat:Sabine.GAGEL@cec.eu.int 

## Leaflet: main features

-  Can be easily  protected with plastic for a prolonged use
-  Recall the main topics and guidelines in death certification
-  Only the WHO international death certificate is shown for clarity purposes
-  Few, relevant and useful concepts
-  Few, relevant and useful examples
-  Pleasant graphic impact: appealing and easy to remember
- Ready-to-use tool to be used in the moment of certification in order to avoid the most common mistakes
- Easy dissemination, low costs: the target should be easily reached

## Slide 30

## Slide 31

## Steering board composition
Gerard Pavillon 	(France)
Mary Heanue		(Ireland)	
Monika Bene		(Hungary)	
Lois Cook		(UK)
Renzo Pace Asiak	(Malta)
Jacques Bonte		Expert privè	
				ISTAT work team
Monica Pace		(Researcher, Project Leader)
Roberta Crialesi	(Head of Health Statistics Section)
Luisa Frova		(Head of Mortality by Cause Unit)	
Silvia Bruzzone	(Researcher, Project Coordinator)	
Stefano Marchetti	(Researcher, Web site project)
Giuseppe Sindoni 	(Researcher, e-learning aspects, data-base supervision, 				consultant on try-out methodologies - DCMT)
Francesco Grippo	(Assistant Researcher)
Simona Cinque	(Assistant Researcher) 	
Marilena Pappagallo	(Assistant Researcher) 
Simona Pennazza	(Assistant Researcher) 
Gennaro Di Fraia	(Assistant Researcher) 
Silvana Sola		(Assistant Researcher)
Antonella Ciccarese	(Administrative secretary)
				IT Private experts
Luigi Arlotta 		(Web project and development)
Alessia Ciuffo 		(Data-base project and development)
Paola Albergamo 	(Web design and development)

**Gerard Pavillon ****	****(France)**
**Mary Heanue****	****	****(Ireland)****	**
**Monika Bene****	****	****(Hungary)****	**
**Lois Cook****	****	****(UK)**
**Renzo Pace Asiak****	****(Malta)**
**Jacques Bonte****	****	****Expert privè****	**
**	****	****	****	****ISTAT work team**
**Monica Pace****	****	****(Researcher, **_**Project Leader**_**)**
**Roberta Crialesi****	****(Head of Health Statistics Section)**
**Luisa Frova****	****	****(Head of Mortality by Cause Unit)****	**
**Silvia Bruzzone****	****(Researcher, Project Coordinator)****	**
**Stefano Marchetti****	****(Researcher, Web site project)**
**Giuseppe Sindoni ****	****(Researcher, e-learning aspects, data-base supervision, ****	****	****	****	****consultant on try-out methodologies - DCMT)**
**Francesco Grippo****	****(Assistant Researcher)**
**Simona Cinque****	****(Assistant Researcher) ****	**
**Marilena Pappagallo****	****(Assistant Researcher) **
**Simona Pennazza****	****(Assistant Researcher) **
**Gennaro Di Fraia****	****(Assistant Researcher) **
**Silvana Sola****	****	****(Assistant Researcher)**
**Antonella Ciccarese****	****(A****dministrative secretary)**
**	****	****	****	****IT Private experts**
**Luigi Arlotta ****	****	****(Web project and development)**
**Alessia Ciuffo ****	****	****(Data-base project and development)**
**Paola Albergamo ****	****(Web design and development)**

## Box 6 - Neoplasm reporting check-list

**Please remember to specify:**
- Whether benign, malignant or uncertain behaviour;
- The primary site if known;
- If the primary site is unknown;
- The morphological type if known;
- Site(s) of metastases _and_ primary site if known;
- The expression “metastatic from site” defines the primary site(s);
- The expression “metastatic to site” defines the secondary site(s);
- Possibly avoid non-specific terminology such as “carcinomatosis”, “carcinosis”, “growth”, “malignancy”, etc...;
- Identify leukemia as “acute”, “sub-acute” or “chronic”, and define the involved cell type.
- (*See case histories N. 11-15*)

## Importance of providing the best medical opinion I

## Importance of providing the best medical opinion II

**Importance of providing the best medical opinion II**

## IV ENDOCRINE, NUTRITIONAL AND METABOLIC DISORDERS

- General information to be reported by the certifier in order to add specificity to the endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disorders:
- Nature of the disease process or disturbance of function;* e.g. corticoadrenal insufficiency; e.g congenital syndrome of iodine deficiency;*
- Type of deficiency, etc.;* e.g. pure hyperglyceridaemia;*
- Severity, where appropriate.
*See also case histories N. 5; 7*

| Diabetes  | Nature of complication or manifestation in a particular site |
| --- | --- |
| Diabetes mellitus | Type	I or II diabetes 
              With Complication(s); e.g.         nephropathy, peripheral vascular disease |
| Goitre | Type 	Simple Toxic Diffuse      Uninodular	Multinodular |

## Conclusions

- This project represents a real effort in the improvement of quality and comparability of mortality statistics in Europe
- The intent has been to provide a common set of existing rules on certification of causes of death in the respect of International guidelines and of National practices and laws as well
- Management of the web-tool is a crucial point that could be done at three different levels: on the EUROSTAT server for all countries, on a different central server for all countries, or on each interested country server. The decision on this aspect deserves particular attention for its consequences in terms of technical management as well as in terms of economic resources to be allocated for each solution by different European or National Institutions

## Future perspectives I

- Dissemination and sensitization of the European countries to adopt the developed products is a critical point now because such a work deserves to be implemented and used to be effective (EUROSTAT recommendations 30-32)
- Collaboration with WHO should be sought and specific campaigns should be done to reach this goal in the next few years (EUROSTAT recomm. 33-36)
- A system to keep the collected information updated for all European countries should be organized, and some suggestions came from this project (EUROSTAT recommendation 21)
- One of the most interesting and promising results of this project is the possibility to load a national death certificate instead of limiting the training to the “neutral” international death certificate form. Such a new approach opens new possibilities in the effectiveness of training on certification of causes of death, and most important, offers a first experimental use of IT technology in Europe to train certifiers to complete an electronic image of their National certificate. This innovation could represents the first step towards the electronic death certificate (EUROSTAT recommendation 22)

## The use of the WHO international death certificate form and the definition and future use of agreed additional information (EUROSTAT recommendations 15-20) may represent a first step towards the European Death Certificate
The infant mortality certification issue still remain to be defined and future efforts should be done in this direction both on the definition of a common informative basis (for certificate format, age of reference, etc...) as well as on the certification practices (EUROSTAT recommendations 11-14).

- The infant mortality certification issue still remain to be defined and future efforts should be done in this direction both on the definition of a common informative basis (for certificate format, age of reference, etc...) as well as on the certification practices (EUROSTAT recommendations 11-14).

**Future perspectives II**