Abstract
Cancer staging enables planning for the best treatments, evaluation of prognosis, and predictions for survival. The Collaborative Stage (CS) system makes it possible to significantly reduce the proportion of patients labeled at an "unknown" stage as well as discrepancies among different staging systems. This study aims to analyze the factors that influence the accuracy and validity of CS data. Data were randomly selected (233 cases) from stomach cancer cases enrolled for CS survey at the Korea Central Cancer Registry. Two questionnaires were used to assess CS values for each case and to review the cancer registration environment for each hospital. Data were analyzed in terms of the relationships between the time spent for acquisition and registration of CS information, environments relating to cancer registration in the hospitals, and document sources of CS information for each item. The time for extracting and registering data was found to be shorter when the hospitals had prior experience gained from participating in a CS pilot study and when they were equipped with full-time cancer registrars. Evaluation of the CS information according to medical record sources found that the percentage of items missing for Site Specific Factor (SSF) was 30% higher than for other CS variables. Errors in CS coding were found in variables such as "CS Extension," "CS Lymph Nodes," "CS Metastasis at Diagnosis," and "SSF25 Involvement of Cardia and Distance from Esophagogastric Junction (EGJ)." To build CS system data that are reliable for cancer registration and clinical research, the following components are required: 1) training programs for medical records administrators; 2) supporting materials to promote active participation; and 3) format development to improve registration validity.
Highlights
Cancer is the number one cause of death in South Korea, accounting for 27.6% of the total national death toll in 2012 (Statistics Korea, 2013)
Collecting cancer registration data with the Collaborative Stage (CS) staging system allows for the conversion of existing Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Summary Staging data into American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM Staging format, as well as the collection of more detailed data in addition to stage codes from clinical data
Diagnosed without treatment medical scientists, who use them for study, and clinical doctors, who use them for treatment and prognosis
Summary
Cancer is the number one cause of death in South Korea, accounting for 27.6% of the total national death toll in 2012 (Statistics Korea, 2013). Cancer registration statistics lead to predictions regarding medical staff, hospitals, and costs for cancer treatment. Accurate statistics make it possible to check the effects of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment programs, which can be used to create materials for cancer information training and promotion. The cancer registration project, which began in the 1980s (Shin et al, 2005), has made various efforts such as training cancer registrars to ensure quality registration data, distribution of quality management programs, and development of registration guides and training materials. Conclusions: To build CS system data that are reliable for cancer registration and clinical research, the following components are required: 1) training programs for medical records administrators; 2) supporting materials to promote active participation; and 3) format development to improve registration validity Errors in CS coding were found in variables such as “CS Extension,” “CS Lymph Nodes,” “CS Metastasis at Diagnosis,” and “SSF25 Involvement of Cardia and Distance from Esophagogastric Junction (EGJ).” Conclusions: To build CS system data that are reliable for cancer registration and clinical research, the following components are required: 1) training programs for medical records administrators; 2) supporting materials to promote active participation; and 3) format development to improve registration validity
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