(The Utility of Cancer Registry Software in Korea): The Software of 'CANCER' by Korea Central Cancer Registry Program

Oh, Ji Young; Won, Young Joo; Koh, Soon Jeong; Jung, Kyu Won; Pu, Yoo Kyung; Choi, Haeng Jung; Lim, Hyun sook; Shin, Hai Rim

Abstract

The Korean Central Cancer Registry Program analyses data on the incidence and characteristics of cancer gathered from training hospitals across the nation in order to prepare coherent and accurate summary. The program has had these data computer processed through CANCER (version 1.5), a computer program for registry, since 1996. In 2002, we conducted a survey of the registered hospitals on the status of utilization for this cancer registry related-computer program and on the additional requirements to the existing variables. The results showed that the number of hospitals using the CANCER program has slightly outnumbered the hospitals using their own computer system for hospital information. That is because the number of cancer registry cases of the large-scale hospitals such as general hospitals, which comprises the majority of registered hospitals, is so many that they are able to sort out cancer registry data from their own system. They also reported a middle level of satisfaction with the program utilization. Among the least satisfactory items were the program's lack of portability to different situations and the necessity for double input of the same registry field. The field most requested by the surveyed hospitals for addition to the program was one on metastatic site. This study should lead to follow-up measures such as the development of a variety of algorithms to enhance the accuracy of the data by further reducing the errors in processing the data, and the recommendation of standards which are likely to enhance data adaptability. The result will be utilized as a basic reference for building a systematic and effective database on the national cancer registry.