The AUA Quality Registry: Engaging Stakeholders to Improve the Quality of Care for Patients with Prostate Cancer

Abstract

IntroductionDetermining the most effective treatments for complex medical conditions requires robust clinical data. Clinical registries comprise real-world observational data, which allow rapid assessment of the effectiveness of treatments and care processes. In 2014 the AUA (American Urological Association) launched the AQUA (AUA Quality) Registry, a national urological disease registry intended to measure and report health care quality and patient outcomes, and support health services and comparative effectiveness research. The initial focus of the registry is newly diagnosed prostate cancer. In July 2014 the AUA convened a Stakeholder Forum with more than 20 organizations interested in improving the quality of care provided to patients with prostate cancer. MethodsWe discuss the rationale and need for the AQUA Registry, define quality of care for prostate cancer, prioritize data and information needs, and identify potential future uses for AQUA data beyond quality improvement. ResultsAQUA data will provide high quality data on effective treatments. Good quality of care for prostate cancer focuses on patient centered outcomes based on current evidence. The highest priority data collection needs are patient characteristics, evaluation and intervention utilization data, clinical and patient reported outcomes, and cost and resource use. In the future the registry data may be used to fulfill urologist quality reporting requirements. The AQUA Registry will also allow for a range of local and national quality improvement, and health services research efforts driven by urologists. ConclusionThe AQUA Registry will provide an essential platform to improve health care quality and support the next generation of clinical urology research and policy initiatives.