Abstract
Background
A significant disparity regarding survival outcome for melanoma among European regions
is well recognized and access to high quality care for European melanoma patients
needs to be improved. There is an unmet need for the implementation of minimal standard
of care within defined clinical pathways and Quality Assurance (QA) indicators.
Objective
The EU-MELACARE study aims to identify shared variables for cutaneous melanoma cases
recorded in melanoma registries across Europe.
Material and methods
Opinion leaders involved in melanoma data registration and care quality analysis in
34 European countries were invited to respond to an expert survey covering questions
regarding the melanoma registration practice in their countries and the characteristics,
coverage and variables collected by the relevant melanoma registries.
Results
Data regarding 13 melanoma registries from 11 European countries contributed to the
study. The majority (61,5%) were population based registries and more than half (62%)
had national coverage. The included registries collected a median of 38 variables
(Interquartile Range, IRQ 21–76). We identified 24 shared variables available in >70%
of registries.
Conclusions
This study provides valuable specific information on information recorded for melanoma
cases are registered within Europe. A core of shared variables has been identified,
which will constitute the basis for a standardized set of QA indicators for assessing
and monitoring melanoma care across European countries.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 03, 2018
Accepted:
June 21,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.
