Case Finding Trial to Increase Case Counts
Arkansas Central Cancer Registry (ACCR)
The ACCR strives to increase their case ascertainment since we believe that the cancer burden is not reflected accurately. Through data analysis, we determined that the missing cases were those most likely to be diagnosed or treated in doctor's offices and specialty clinics (dermatology, urology, and hematology), which have been small to modest in reporting and very inconsistent.
Data analysis included identifying the number of non-hospital facilities reporting, the number of reported cases, the top five to 10 facilities that fail to report data, and the overall case ascertainment from non-hospital facilities.
In collaboration with the state’s pathology laboratories and some out-of-state laboratories, we used our cancer registry database management system (CancerCore) to identify outstanding cases and the doctor or clinic responsible for the requests submitted to the pathology lab. We searched all cases in CancerCore to find out if they had been reported, and if they were diagnosed at the reporting facility, we reviewed them for possible updates.
We asked all non-hospital facilities with five or more outstanding cases to use Web Plus, one of software programs in the Registry Plus suite.
The burden of cancer can be reflected more accurately if consistent data are received from non-hospital sources. Using Web Plus increased non-hospital reporting to the central registry. Case totals increased by more than 400 in one year, and the case ascertainment completeness rate improved from 92.2% to 97.5% in two years.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
4770 Buford Hwy NE
MS K-64
Atlanta, GA 30341 - 800-CDC-INFO
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