title: Variability in the quality of rectal cancer care in public hospitals in Catalonia (Spain): clinical audit as a basis for action.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical practice guidelines in cancer are a relevant component of Catalonian Cancer Strategy aimed at promoting equity of access to therapy and quality of cancer care. The colorectal cancer (CRC) guideline was first published in 2003 and subsequently updated in 2008. This study examined the quality of therapy administered to patients with rectal cancer in public hospitals in Catalonia (Spain) in 2005 and 2007, according to CRC guideline recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent curative-intent surgery for primary rectal cancer at Catalonian public hospitals in 2005 and 2007. Data were drawn from clinical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study covered 1831 patients with rectal cancer. Performance of total mesorectal excision (TME) was poorly reported by surgeons (46.4%) and pathologists (36.2%). Pre-operative radiotherapy was performed on 52% of stage-II and -III patients. Compared to high-caseload hospitals, those with a low caseload (≤11 cases/year) registered more Hartman's procedures, worse TME quality, a higher rate of post-operative complications and lower adherence to recommended pre-operative radio-chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reporting quality of care is essential for ascertaining current performance status and opportunities for improvement. In our case, there is a need for the quality of the information included in clinical records to be improved, and variability in adherence to guideline recommendations to be reduced. In view of the fact that heterogeneity in the quality of the health care process was linked to hospital caseload, the health authorities have decided to reorganise the provision of rectal cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Catalonian Cancer Strategy Unit, Regional Health Authority, Av. Gran Via s/n, Km 2,7, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. pmanchon@iconcologia.net
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manchon-Walsh
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Borras
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Espinas
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aliste
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology