title: Rectal cancer: future directions and priorities for treatment, research and policy in New Zealand.
abstract: New Zealand has one of the highest incidences of rectal cancer in the world, and its optimal management requires a multidisciplinary approach. A National Rectal Cancer Summit was convened in August 2013 to discuss management of rectal cancer in the New Zealand context, to highlight controversies and discuss domestic priorities for the future. This paper summarises the priorities for treatment, research and policy for rectal cancer services in New Zealand identified as part of the Summit in August. The following priorities were identified: - Access to high-quality information for service planning, review of outcomes, identification of inequities and gaps in provision, and quality improvement; - Engagement with the entire sector, including private providers; - Focus on equity; - Emerging technologies; - Harmonisation of best practice; - Importance of multidisciplinary team meetings. In conclusion, improvements in outcomes for patients with rectal cancer in New Zealand will require significant engagement between policy makers, providers, researchers, and patients in order to ensure equitable access to high quality treatment, and strategic incorporation of emerging technologies into clinical practice. A robust clinical information framework is required in order to facilitate monitoring of quality improvements and to ensure that equitable care is delivered.
authors.affiliation: Southern Blood and Cancer, Private Bag 1951, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. christopher.jackson@southerndhb.govt.nz.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ehrenberg
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frizelle
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarfati
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balasingam
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pearse
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: Cristin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Print
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bissett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D017281:Cost of Illness; D019468:Disease Management; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012106:Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods*