ABSTRACT
There are five characteristics that are relevant to assessing the quality of data collected via an incident reporting system: data completeness, positive predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and representativeness. This chapter provides step-by-step guidance on undertaking an implementation trial to evaluate these characteristics. It describes the process that can be used for small-scale implementation trials prior to full deployment, and aims to evaluate incident reporting systems that have already been deployed within an organization. The application of the process is illustrated by describing a 6-month trial of the understanding and preventing led outdoor accidents data system (UPLOADS) prototype. The implementation trial undertaken to evaluate the prototype UPLOADS is used to practically illustrate the process. It is good practice to conduct a small-scale trial prior to the full-scale implementation of an incident reporting system, and then periodically evaluate data quality throughout the life cycle of a system.
