DESIGNING A MINIMUM DATA SET FOR NATIONAL CANCER REGISTRY IN IRAN

Due to the widespread increase of cancer diseases، cancer registries as foundations for a struggle plan against the disease have been established. The resulting data of cancer research have great value in conducting a research on primary and secondary prevention، health care planning and cancer control. The purpose of this study was to design a minimum data set for national cancer registry system to standardize cancer data in Iran. The present study was a descriptive –comparative investigation conducted in Iran. The population of the study consisted of six countries: Iran، Malaysia، Australia، Japan، Denmark and the United Kingdom. The study was a literature review including library resources and information on the databases using data extraction form. The data were analyzed by comparative tables using similarities and dissimilarities of the cancer registry systems in the countries under the study. Then، three oncologists in association with three health information management experts formed a panel to reach an agreement on a minimum data set on the basis of the new data. According to the findings of the comparative study a national minimum data set was proposed. This data set was comprised of three sub sets of information: demographics، tumor and its treatment، patient death. Regarding the crucial role of minimum data set in decision makings، statistical reports، consensus on a uniform set of data، and deployment of standardized data in all cancer centers، the use of the proposed minimum data set of the present study is highly recommended.