Agreement of Iranian Breast Cancer Data and Relationshipswith Measuring Quality of Care in a 5-year Period (2006-2011)

Abstract

<br /><strong>Objectives</strong>: To investigate data agreement of cancer registries and medical records as well as the quality ofcare and assess their relationship in a 5-year period from 2006 to 2011. <br /><strong>Methods</strong>: The present cross-sectional,descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 443 cases summarized through census and using a checklist.Data agreement of Nemazi hospital-based cancer registry and the breast cancer prevention center was analyzedaccording to their corresponding medical records through adjusted and unadjusted Kappa. The process of carequality was also computed and the relationship with data agreement was investigated through chi-square test.<br /><strong>Results</strong>: Agreement of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy data between Nemazi hospital-based cancerregistry and medical records was 62.9%, 78.5%, and 81%, respectively, while the figures were 93.2%, 87.9%,and 90.8%, respectively, between breast cancer prevention center and medical records. Moreover, quality ofmastectomy, lumpectomy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy services assessed in Nemazi hospital-based cancerregistry was 12.6%, 21.2%, 35.2%, and 15.1% different from the corresponding medical records. On the otherhand, 7.4%, 1.4%, 22.5%, and 9.6% differences were observed between the quality of the above-mentionedservices assessed in the breast cancer prevention center and the corresponding medical records. A significantrelationship was found between data agreement and quality assessment. <br /><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Although the resultsshowed good data agreement, more agreement regarding the cancer stage data elements and the type of thereceived treatment is required to better assess cancer care quality. Therefore, more structured medical recordsand stronger cancer registry systems are recommended.