Utilization of cancer registry data for monitoring quality of care

Abstract Background Cancer Program Practice Profile Reports (CP 3 R), established by the Commission on Cancer, are based on 6 guidelines for breast and colorectal cancer care using cancer registry data. The long-term goal is the use of cancer registry data for real-time interventions to optimize the process of individual patient multidisciplinary care. Methods CP 3 R results using 593 analytic breast cancer cases in 2008 were compared in 3 databases: an institutional breast cancer research database, an institutional cancer registry, and a regional Cancer Surveillance System. Results Compliance with the CP 3 R guidelines calculated using the 3 databases was 80% to 98% for radiation therapy following breast-conserving surgery, 78% to 88% for combination chemotherapy of hormone receptor–negative stage T1c, II, or III disease, and 53% to 85% for hormone therapy of hormone receptor–positive stage T1c, II, or III disease. There was a high rate of discrepancy of tumor characteristics, treatment, and CP 3 R resulting from inaccurate and incomplete data. Conclusions Using national cancer databases prospectively to monitor and ensure optimal multidisciplinary cancer care will require dramatic changes in cancer registry processes.