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Data Standards and Data Dictionary

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Length: 2
Source of Standard: NAACCR
Section Name: Demographic
Year Implemented: 2016
Version Implemented: 16
Record Types: A, M, C, I

XML NAACCR ID: ruralurbanContinuum2013

Parent XML Element: Tumor

Alternate Names:

  • Beale Code

Required Status:

NPCR Collect: D - Derived
CoC Collect: . - No recommendations
SEER Collect: D - Derived
CCCR Collect: . - No recommendations

Description:

Comment: The RuralUrban Continuum (2013) codes separate counties into four metropolitan and six non-metropolitan categories, based on the size their populations and form a classification scheme that distinguishes metropolitan counties by size and non-metropolitan counties by degree of urbanization and proximity to metro areas.

These codes can be derived electronically, using patients’ state and county at diagnosis, so registrars do not need to provide them. FIPS state and county code mappings to Beale Codes can be obtained in an Excel file athttp://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/RuralUrbanContinuumCodes.

The code is a 9-point continuum, transmitted in standard NAACCR record form with a leading 0, (01-09). Abstractors do not enter these codes.

Areas that are not included in the Rural-Urban Continuum code table, such as Canadian provinces/territories and U.S. territories (other than Puerto Rico) will be coded 98. Records for non-residents of the state of the reporting institution (County at DX = 998) also will be coded 98. If Addr at DX–State is XX, YY or ZZ, or if County at DX = 999, the Rural-Urban Continuum will be coded 99.

Rationale:

Categorizing counties by population size helps researchers investigate geographic correlates of the burden of cancer in the area of interest.

Format:

Right justified, zero-filled

Item Data Type:

digits

Allowable Values

01-09, 98, 99, blank

Codes:

Metropolitan Counties (00-03)

01

Counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more

02

Counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population

03

Counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population

Nonmetropolitan Counties (04-09)

04

Urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area

05

Urban population of 20,000 or more, not adjacent to a metro area

06

Urban population of 2,500 to 19,999, adjacent to a metro area

07

Urban population of 2,500 to 19,999, not adjacent to a metro area

08

Completely rural or less than 2,500 urban population, adjacent to a metro area

09

Completely rural or less than 2,500 urban population, not adjacent to a metro area

98

Program run, but: (1) area is not included in Rural-Urban Continuum code table, or (2) record is for resident outside of state of reporting institution

99

Unknown

Blank

Program not run; record not coded