IrishMedicalNews

NCRI developing a core national cancer dataset

Written by Lloyd Mudiwa Monday, 08 February 2010 12:25

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The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) has begun the process of developing a core national cancer dataset (CNCDS) which should ultimately ensure that the care received by cancer patients is consistent and in conformity with national guidelines.

The CNCDS, which should not preclude the development of more specialised or more detailed datasets, shall serve a range of purposes, including cancer registration, service planning and evaluation and would support some aspects of clinical audit and research, the NCRI has stated.

There is a growing recognition of the need to base cancer control policies on accurate, detailed and timely information on cancer management and outcomes, the NCRI said.

The NCRI said most national population-based information on cancer in Ireland has traditionally come from cancer registration, which has the strengths of being comprehensive, accurate and population-based, but is retrospective and has, in the past, centred on producing accurate reports a year or more after the diagnosis.

“Registration often exists in parallel to, and in isolation from, the clinical and administrative systems in which the primary cancer data is first recorded.

It is, therefore, sometimes seen by clinicians as not serving their specific needs, and, for this reason and others, alternative cancer data collection systems have developed in some Irish hospitals, usually in an ad-hoc fashion,” the Registry stated.

This, according to the NCRI, has led to duplication of effort, inconsistencies and gaps in the availability of information.

The NCRI added: “With the development of the National Cancer Control Programme it is obvious an integrated cancer information system, incorporating a national cancer dataset, is needed to provide detailed timely and consistent information across the country.”