Quality indicators in breast cancer care

Rosselli Del Turco, M.; Ponti, A.; Bick, U.; Biganzoli, L.; Cserni, G.; Cutuli, B.; Decker, T.; Dietel, M.; Gentilini, O.; Kuehn, T.; Mano, M.P.; Mantellini, P.; Marotti, L.; Poortmans, P.; Rank, F.; Roe, H.; Scaffidi, E.; van der Hage, J.A.; Viale, G.; Wells, C.; Welnicka-Jaskiewicz, M.; Wengstöm, Y.; Cataliotti, L.

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2010.06.119

« Previous Next »European Journal of Cancer
Volume 46, Issue 13 , Pages 2344-2356, September 2010

Quality indicators in breast cancer care

M. Rosselli Del Turco
- Eusoma, Florence, Italy
- Corresponding author: Tel.: +39 055 576260; fax: +39 055 5530281.
A. Ponti
- CPO Piemonte, Turin, Italy
U. Bick
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
L. Biganzoli
- Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy
G. Cserni
- Bacs-Kiskun County Teaching Hospital, Kecskemét, Hungary
B. Cutuli
- Policlinique de Courlancy, Reims, France
T. Decker
- Dietrich Bonhoefer Clinic, Neubrandeburg, Germany
M. Dietel
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
O. Gentilini
- European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
T. Kuehn
- Klinikum Esslingen, Esslingen, DE, Germany
M.P. Mano
- AOU San Giovanni Battista, Turin, Italy
P. Mantellini
- Istituto per lo Studio e la Prevenzione Oncologica, ISPO, Florence, Italy
L. Marotti
- Eusoma, Florence, Italy
P. Poortmans
- Institute Verbeeten, Tilburg, The Netherlands
F. Rank
- Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
H. Roe
- North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cumbria, United Kingdom
E. Scaffidi
- European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
J.A. van der Hage
- National Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
G. Viale
- European Institute of Oncology and University of Milan, Milan, Italy
C. Wells
- University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
M. Welnicka-Jaskiewicz
- Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
Y. Wengstöm
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
L. Cataliotti
- Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy

Received 11 July 2010; accepted 18 July 2010. published online 02 August 2010.

Abstract

To define a set of quality indicators that should be routinely measured and evaluated to confirm that the clinical outcome reaches the requested standards, Eusoma has organised a workshop during which twenty four experts from different disciplines have reviewed the international literature and selected the main process and outcome indicators available for quality assurance of breast cancer care. A review of the literature for evidence-based recommendations have been performed by the steering committee.

The experts have identified the quality indicators also taking into account the usability and feasibility. For each of them it has been reported: definition, minimum and target standard, motivation for selection and level of evidence (graded according to AHRO). In overall 17 main quality indicators have been identified, respectively, 7 on diagnosis, 4 on surgery and loco-regional treatment, 2 on systemic treatment and 4 on staging, counselling, follow-up and rehabilitation. Breast Units in Europe are invited to comply with these indicators and monitor them during their periodic audit meetings.

Keywords: Quality indicators, Breast cancer care