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Quality assurance for screening mammography data collection systems in 22 countries
C N Klabunde1, H Sancho-Garnier, M Broeders
1National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
|January 5, 2002
Summary
International Breast Cancer Screening Network (IBSN) countries gather extensive mammography data for quality assurance. However, approaches to data collection and performance assessment vary significantly among participating nations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Organized screening programs are crucial for breast cancer mortality reduction.
- Data quality assurance is essential for reliable screening program evaluation.
- The International Breast Cancer Screening Network (IBSN) facilitates global collaboration in breast cancer screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document mammography data collection practices within IBSN organized screening programs.
- To identify data quality assurance procedures employed by these programs.
- To assess methods used for evaluating screening program performance and impact.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive questionnaire was developed to cover data quality assurance aspects.
- The questionnaire was distributed to representatives of IBSN programs across 23 countries.
Main Results:
- Participating countries collect substantial, often computerized, mammography data.
- Most countries have dedicated staff and training for data quality assurance.
- Data confidentiality measures are widely implemented, though data assessment methods vary.
Conclusions:
- High-quality data collection is fundamental for demonstrating mammography's impact on breast cancer mortality.
- Ensuring data quality in screening mammography programs is a critical and developing focus for IBSN countries.