Question

________ is not secondary data.

Select one:
a. The patient record
b. The master patient index
c. A cancer registry
d. A trauma registry

Answer 1

Secondary data refers to already existing records or databases. The information from interviews conducted by a researcher with cancer patients, as described in example (d), would be considered primary data because it involves the direct collection of new information. Similarly, selecting students based on generated random numbers is also an example of primary data collection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of the question pertains to the identification of secondary data within the context of health information. Secondary data refers to data that is not collected directly by the researcher but rather obtained from existing records or databases. Options (a), (b), (c), and (d) of the question all pertain to different types of health records or registries that might be considered secondary data sources.

However, the correct answer to the question provided is not directly stated. Given the examples listed for reference, if we consider (d) – 'A medical researcher interviews every third cancer patient from a list of cancer patients at a local hospital' – this would represent primary data collection as the researcher is directly obtaining new information through interviews. Similarly, example (e) where a counselor selects students using a random numbers generator, would also represent primary data gathering as it involves directly engaging with students for a new purpose. Neither of these examples constitutes usage of secondary data.

The other options provided in the original question and not included in the examples (patient record, master patient index, and cancer/trauma registry) all represent forms of secondary data typically used in research, as they are pre-existing collections of data aggregated for other purposes but can be used for secondary analysis.

Answer 2

The correct answer to the question is that the patient record is not secondary data. Secondary data refers to data previously collected for other purposes, such as the master patient index, cancer registry, and trauma registry. The patient record is a primary data source documenting firsthand information about a patient's health.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient record, such as a medical chart, represents primary data because it is the original record that documents directly about the patient's health and treatment. Secondary data, on the other hand, refers to data that are not originally generated with the current research question in mind but have been previously collected for another purpose. The master patient index, a cancer registry, and a trauma registry are all examples of secondary data. They are compiled from the primary patient records for other uses, such as tracking disease prevalence or patient demographics. Considering the options provided, a medical researcher interviewing every third cancer patient from a list would be collecting primary data, as they are gathering information firsthand for their specific research study. Similarly, a high school counselor generating random numbers to pick students is also collecting primary data for a specific purpose.

Secondary data is incredibly valuable for research as it can provide a large pool of existing information that researchers can analyze for trends, correlations, and other observations without the need for time-consuming and potentially costly primary data collection. However, the answer to the given question lies in identifying the option that is primary, not secondary, hence the correct answer would be the data collected by the medical researcher. Secondary data sources like the master patient index, cancer registry, and trauma registry serve different purposes and are typically used for statistical, administrative, and policy-making purposes.