title: From policy to practice: assessing the impact of staging policies for recording cancer stage across Canada.
abstract: In 1998, a survey of all hospitals in Canada by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Canada found that only 17% reported that stage was routinely recorded. Closely following the methodology of the 1998 study, an online questionnaire was sent to the chief executive officer of 201 institutions in Canada. Since the study in 1998, it was found that the staging rate in Canada has significantly increased from 17 to 36%. The implementation of a staging policy has had a significant impact on the practices of recording stage, but further policy initiatives, education and communication are required to improve institutional staging practices.
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario. David.Wiljer@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiljer
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neligan
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brierley
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006291:Health Policy; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D013043:Specialties, Surgical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires