Use of a colorectal cancer-specific pro-forma to improve junior doctors’ request form completion using rcpa structured reporting guidelines

Abstract

Background and aim: Cancer reporting checklists improve completeness and quality of cancer reporting thus improving patient outcomes. This study aims to compare adequacy of pre-analytical information provided to pathologists using a colorectal cancer (CRC) specific pro-forma compared to a standard request form. Methods: Standard pathology request forms were collected from junior doctors provided with a written mock clinical case of a low anterior resection (n=15). Data collected included specific parameters relevant to CRC reporting. The same data were collected after implementation of the colorectal-specific pro-forma. Results and discussion: Other than patient details (100% vs 100%) and requesting doctor details (87% vs 87%), data collection was improved with use of a pro-forma compared to the standard from. Medical history was documented in 87% vs 20%; clinical obstruction 86% vs 0%; neoadjuvant therapy 93% vs 40%; operative procedure 100% vs 67%; specimen type 53% vs 33%; perforation 80% vs 7%; distance of rectal cancer from anal verge 80% vs 13%; involvement of adjacent organs 73% vs 0%; and existence of local residual cancer post surgery 60% vs 0%. These findings suggest use of a pro-forma request form for CRC could greatly improve quality and completeness of pre-analytical information provided.