Two-fold variation in melanoma rates between DHBs

July 13, 2015

Atlas in Healthcare Variation: Melanoma incidence rates

Based upon data drawn from the Ministry of Health’s New Zealand Cancer Registry, the Atlas in Healthcare Variation reports that:

  • Melanoma rates did not vary significantly over the years studied, with crude rates of 52/100,000 and ASR (age-standardised rates) of 39/100,000.
  • Those identifying as Māori had significantly lower crude and ASR of melanoma than non-Māori – with crude rates for Māori of 4.5/100,000 and for non-Māori of 61/100,000.
  • Rates increased with age, and males had significantly higher rates than females.
  • There was a two-fold variation in crude and ASR between DHBs. This suggests that factors other than age influence melanoma rates.

Atlas in Healthcare Variation: Background

The Atlas:

  • Provides an overview of the crude and age-standardised incidence rates both overall and for the five most common cancers (including melanoma) in New Zealand, by DHB
  • Displays maps, graphs, tables and commentaries that highlight variations by geographic area in the provision and use of specific health services and health outcomes
  • Is designed to prompt debate and raise questions about health service use and provision amongst clinicians, users and providers of health services about why any differences exist, and to stimulate improvement through this debate
  • Highlights variation but does not suggest an ideal level (high is not necessarily good or bad; the average is not necessarily the ideal). This means that it should not be used a tool for judging the performance of one geographic area against another.

Source:
Health Quality & Safety Commission of New Zealand. Atlas of Healthcare Variation. http://www.hqsc.govt.nz/our-programmes/health-qual...



« Back to News