74 PROCARE <strong>–</strong> <strong>phase</strong> 2 KCE reports 814 INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITHQUALITY MEASUREMENT OF RECTALCANCER CARE4.1 INTRODUCTIONIn addition to national benchmarking, i.e. comparing results from individual hospitals orteams with national performances with feedback to participating teams, PROCARE alsoaims for international benchmarking. This would allow an audit of the national quality ofcare and can be performed by comparing the results in Belgium with those in othercomparab<strong>le</strong> countries or foreign populations. This comparison could indicate whetherfurther improvement is possib<strong>le</strong> and/or warranted. Comparison of Belgianperformances can be done with nationwi<strong>de</strong> or population-based databases or withresults from multicentre prospective trials. For international benchmarking, comparisonwith population-based data is preferred above a comparison with results from largetrials. Whi<strong>le</strong> the latter give an indication of potentially reachab<strong>le</strong> targets, populationbasedresults more accurately represent the quality of care in a given nation/region.Nationwi<strong>de</strong> initiatives in other European countries, e.g. Norway, Denmark and Swe<strong>de</strong>n,have illustrated the positive impact on multip<strong>le</strong> aspects of <strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> care by meansof registration with feedback to participating hospitals [12-15]. In Swe<strong>de</strong>n, a national<strong>cancer</strong> registry already started in 1995. The well-known Swedish <strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> trial wasperformed afterwards [16]. Thus, it can be expected that an exchange of data withSwe<strong>de</strong>n would allow a<strong>de</strong>quate national quality comparison with Belgium. In Denmarkand Norway, national initiatives have been un<strong>de</strong>rtaken in or<strong>de</strong>r to introduce TME as thestandard for <strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> surgery. Its impact on improved quality of care was<strong>de</strong>monstrated [15]. Moreover, Norway has instal<strong>le</strong>d a national <strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> database.Although a Dutch nationwi<strong>de</strong> colo<strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> database will only start in 2008 orafterwards, some regional databases have been instal<strong>le</strong>d and exemplary results andconsequences are availab<strong>le</strong> from the Dutch TME trial [17]. The same applies forGermany where a large trial on <strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> comparing pre- and postoperativechemoradiotherapy was performed [18]. Nationwi<strong>de</strong> data are absent in Germany, butregional databases are functioning. In France, several smal<strong>le</strong>r regional databases seem tobe functioning [19, 20]. In Spain, colo<strong>rectal</strong> surgeons recently started a national databasefor quality control [21]. Finally, the national bowel <strong>cancer</strong> audit programme in theUnited Kingdom <strong>–</strong> instaured since several years <strong>–</strong> is well-known(http://www.nbocap.org.uk/). It is expected that data specific for <strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> willbecome availab<strong>le</strong>. Also, regional data from the Northern and Yorkshire County seem tobe availab<strong>le</strong> [22, 23].4.2 METHODOLOGYContacts were ma<strong>de</strong> with other Western European countries in May 2006. Thesecontacts were updated in January 2008 with Denmark, France, Germany, Norway,Swe<strong>de</strong>n, Spain, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.In January 2008, a questionnaire was sent to contact persons mentioned in Tab<strong>le</strong> 59.The questionnaire consisted of a first part related to characteristics of thedatabase/registry, whi<strong>le</strong> the second part asked for information on the availability forcross-bor<strong>de</strong>r comparison of quality of care indicators, as <strong>de</strong>termined in the presentstudy. A remin<strong>de</strong>r was sent to these contact persons who did not answer by February1 st , asking for a reply before the end of February 2008. All contacted persons respon<strong>de</strong>dwithin 3 weeks, except for the registry of the NBOCAP. However, the NYCRIS andNBOCAP registries were found to be linked (cfr. infra).
KCE Reports 81 PROCARE <strong>–</strong> <strong>phase</strong> 2 75Tab<strong>le</strong> 59. Overview of contacted persons for international benchmarking.Country Organisation/project Contacted person(s)Denmark Danish Colo<strong>rectal</strong> Cancer Registry Dr. H. HarlingFrance Registre Bourguignon <strong>de</strong>s Cancers Digestifs Prof. Dr. J. FaivreGermany Baverian Cancer Register Dr. M. MeyerThe Netherlands LUMC Lei<strong>de</strong>n Prof. Dr. C. van <strong>de</strong> Vel<strong>de</strong>Association of Comprehensive Cancer Dr. R. OtterCentres (ACCC)Norway Norwegian Colo<strong>rectal</strong> Cancer Registry Prof. B. VonenL. DørumSpain Asociación Española <strong>de</strong> Cirujanos Prof. Dr. H. OrtizSwe<strong>de</strong>n Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry Prof. Dr. L. PahlmanUKNational bowel <strong>cancer</strong> audit project Prof. M. Thompson(NBOCAP)Northern and Yorkshire Cancer Registry(NYCRIS)Prof. D. Froman4.3 RESULTS4.3.1 Rectal <strong>cancer</strong> databases in Western EuropeA database with specific (hence more <strong>de</strong>tai<strong>le</strong>d) data on patients with <strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> existsfor more than a <strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong> in most of the evaluated countries (Tab<strong>le</strong> 60). In theNetherlands and UK, <strong>rectal</strong> and colon <strong>cancer</strong> data are registered together, but it seemsthat specific data related to <strong>rectal</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> can be retrieved (at <strong>le</strong>ast in the regionaldatabase of the Netherlands). Registration started very recently in Spain (2006) and theNetherlands (2008).Data registration is compulsory in the national databases of Denmark, Norway, Swe<strong>de</strong>nand the UK, where the comp<strong>le</strong>teness of patient inclusion is checked. Data are managedand analysed by scientific/professional bodies or associations, and several registries arefun<strong>de</strong>d by the government. The frequency of feedback to participating centres isvariab<strong>le</strong>, but at <strong>le</strong>ast on an annual basis. The Danish registry uses a system with ‘on-line’feedback.Based on the characteristics of the respective databases, those of Denmark, Norway,Swe<strong>de</strong>n and the UK seem to be of greatest interest for benchmarking with thePROCARE data/results. These registries are compulsory and national, and haveexperience with analysis and regular feedback since several years. The Spanish registrystarted recently (2006) and participation is partial (based on voluntary collaboration,mainly from sub-specialised colo<strong>rectal</strong> surgeons).