LI Course
CE Hours: 6 contact hours

Partnership: National Cancer Institute; Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program

Statement of Purpose and Institute Overview: The purpose of this learning institute is to teach how to use the statistical software SEER*Stat, a resource from the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)Program, to analyze cancer surveillance data. NCI SEER is an authoritative source of data providing information on cancer incidence, survival, prevalence, and multiple primary analyses in the United States. The SEER*Stat software provides a convenient, intuitive mechanism for the analysis of SEER and other cancer-related databases. Researchers, clinicians, public health officials, legislators, policymakers, community groups, and the public can use these data to examine individual cancer records and to produce statistics for studying the impact of cancer on a population. Participants will be taught from a hands-on perspective working through a series of structured examples on individual PCs. The aim is to increase usage and understanding of SEER*Stat, which can be used to view individual data records and to calculate frequencies, rates and trends, survival, limited-duration prevalence, and multiple primary standardized incidence ratios. SEER*Stat experts will be available to assist with the in-class exercises and address any questions. SEER*Stat is relevant to public health concerns and appropriate for the “Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds and Bodies” theme since it involves historical and current surveillance data on cancer patients in various local and national communities in the United States. For example, SEER*Stat results have shown that in recent years, delay adjusted incidence rates for male lung cancer, colorectal and female breast cancer have all significantly declined, while rates of female lung cancer continues to rise in certain geographic areas through 2007. This suggests a particular need for tobacco control efforts targeted toward women. Data produced by SEER*Stat are used to conduct cancer prevention and control studies, prioritize cancer control efforts and monitor progress for the purpose of reducing the burden of the disease on the U.S population.

Session Objectives: Demonstrate how to calculate disease frequencies and incidence rates and view database values using the SEER*Stat software. Define an analysis cohort. Demonstrate how to stratify SEER*Stat results based on cancer site, geographic location, or other variables

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)