Designing a Minimum Data Set for Thyroid Cancer in Iran

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common malignancies related to an endocrine disorder. Due to the widespread increase in thyroid cancer disease all over the world, cancer registries play an important task for improving survival, prevention, and control of cancer plans in developing countries.

This study aimed at developing a minimum data set (MDS) for thyroid cancer registry to improve care and treatment core indicators and to revise related guidelines for thyroid cancer in Iran.

This research was a descriptive and cross sectional study carried out in 2015. Most of the data were collected from the patient's medical records in public hospitals of Ahvaz province, healthcare medicine centers in Ahvaz, in addition to online databases. The data were collected, using a checklist. The decision-making classic Delphi method was used to make a consensus about the data elements. The construct validity and reliability of the questionnaire were approved by the expert’s opinions in the field of endocrinology.

Out of 251 elements of thyroid cancer discussed, 142 and 8 agreed by more than %75 and by 50% to 75% of the experts, respectively. The MDS was divided into 2 categories of identify and clinical data with 1 and 11 sections, respectively.

Comprehensive and uniform data elements about thyroid cancer was not available in Iran. This data set in the field of collecting thyroid cancer information can be useful through facilitating the exchange of health information. The determination of MDS for thyroid cancer will be an effective step to integrate and improve the management of patients’ records.