title: A successful clinical pilot registry of four radiation oncology practices in Africa and Ontario.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiation Oncology practices can exhibit heterogeneities between and sometimes within institutions. Clinical registries with scope and detail could quantify consistency and distinctives that justify difference. Retrospective, isolated clinical audits are problematic, typically because not all data are captured in charts, while useful prospective clinical registries will have to be practical, efficient and accurate. We tested feasibility of a clinical registry at a critical time-point in the patient's clinical trajectory when treating physicians could have requisite data.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective and non-randomized observational study. Four centres used a 1-page form to acquire data during a 4-month period. Patients had curative breast, rectum or prostate cancers, or were palliative. Objectives were to demonstrate form completion and to delineate patterns of disease presentation and clinical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 107 cases had 99% complete data, internally consistent within cases and centres. Similar practices were seen for 22 cases with curative rectal and prostate cancer, and 34 palliative cases, but of the 51 curative breast cancer cases those in Africa were with greater Stage, underwent more extensive surgery, were less likely to receive shorter radiation schedules, and were less exposed to Taxane-based chemotherapy regimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the feasibility for a simple clinical registry requiring minimal effort by participants. A real-time pan-African registry, operating continually or in regular waves, could provide important knowledge at little cost.
authors: T R
authors: TR
authors: Madzima
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Boshoff
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Abuidris
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Tsikai
authors: G W
authors: GW
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012042:Registries