BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer, eighth most common cancer among U.S. women and fifth leading cause of cancer deaths, has no effective early detection. Prevention exists for genetically-related cases, which constitute a small proportion of all cases. Effective treatment reduces mortality. Treatment by a gynecologic oncologist (GO) can result in longer survival. Missouri and other Midwestern states have high rates of ovarian cancer but a limited number of GOs available to deliver guidelines-based treatment.
OBJECTIVE: Measure outcomes (survival) following treatment and assess whether receipt of guidelines-based treatment differs by patient sociodemographic factors or treating physician characteristics.
METHODS: The Missouri Cancer Registry (MCR) took part in a three-state study examining ovarian cancer treatment and survival patterns. MCR staff followed a data collection protocol, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), designed to collect existing central cancer registry (CCR) data items and data elements collected by reporting facilities but not reported to the CCR. Case selection criteria were based on age, primary site, histology and year of diagnosis. Cases (N = 335) were randomly selected from hospitals reporting to MCR. We imported data into a customized version of CDC software. We requested treatment data and data on recurrence from hospitals, reviewed responses, entered data into software, performed QA (including follow-back to facilities) and uploaded cases to CDC’s contractor.
RESULTS: In January 2018, we tested processes using two of c. 50 hospitals as pilot sites. We received feedback from the CDC contractor and made adjustments as needed. We sent a list of patients and procedures to remaining hospitals; data collection ended in May 2018. We will present an assessment of the process and a preliminary analysis of results.
DISCUSSION: This was a very labor-intensive project for both hospital and CCR staff. Forty percent of selected cases needed follow-back or exclusion/replacement.