title: [External evaluation of population-based cancer registries: the REDEPICAN Guide for Latin America].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the feasibility of the REDEPICAN Guide (Red Iberoamericana de Epidemiología y Sistemas de Información en Cáncer) and its adaptation to the current situation of population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) in Latin America and the Caribbean as a useful tool to improve these registries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experts in cancer registries and health audits designed the guide and developed seven domains to evaluate in PBCRs. Several criteria were selected for each domain, with corresponding standards, scored according to three levels of compliance. Two training courses for external evaluators and three discussion panels for experts were organized. The guide was tested in six PBCRs in Latin America and Spain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The guide contains 68 criteria, 10 of which are considered essential for a PBCR. Based on its score, a registry is regarded as acceptable (41-199), good (200-299), or excellent (300-350). The registry methods domain accounts for 25% of the score, followed by completeness and validity (19%), dissemination of outcomes (19%), structure (13%), confidentiality and ethical aspects (11%), comparability (9%), and the procedures manual (3%). The pilot project enabled (1) enhancement of criteria and standards, (2) expansion of the quality concept to include client needs, and (3) strengthening the dissemination of outcomes section. Two of the Latin American registries that were evaluated improved their quality, meeting the standards of the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Development of the REDEPICAN Guide has taken into account the context of the registries in Latin America and is a useful and innovative tool for improving the quality of PBCRs. Furthermore, it is ready for use in other countries and registries.
authors.affiliation: Consejería de Sanidad y Política Social, Murcia, España, carmen.navarro@carm.es.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Consejería de Sanidad y Política Social, Murcia, España, carmen.navarro@carm.es.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Registro Nacional de Cáncer de Uruguay.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.affiliation: Registro de Cáncer de Euskadi, Vitoria, Gasteiz, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izarzugaza
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.affiliation: Registro Nacional de Tumores, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cueva
authors.affiliation: Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Granada, España.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Chirlaque
authors.affiliation: Escuela Nacional de Salud Pública, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Evaluación externa de registros de cáncer de base poblacional: la Guía REDEPICAN para América Latina.