Verification of data in a nationwide transanal total mesorectal excision registry in China

Transanal total mesorectal excision is a surgical procedure for mid- and low rectal cancer. The Chinese TaTME Registry Collaborative is a nationwide database collecting information on patients who have undergone this procedure.

Centers were invited by the registry committee to participate in a three-part data audit project: remote audits for data completeness and deviation values, onsite source verification of data accuracy, and an online survey of the characteristics of data managers.

Twenty-three tertiary centers participated in this project. The median case volume registered by the centers was 51 (interquartile range, 25-89). The overall data completeness for 30 verified variables was 89.1%. Eight centers achieved a high data completeness rate (>95%). The source data of eight centers were verified onsite. The overall accuracy rate was 90.4% (85.3%-97.6% across centers). Postoperative complications, mortality, and proximal/distal resection margin involvement were accurately reported in >95% of cases. The data completeness rate was higher if the data manager was a surgeon/surgical resident (94.2% vs. 84.8%, p = 0.045).

The completeness and accuracy of the data in the Chinese TaTME Registry Collaborative are acceptable. The quality of the data is highest when entered by colorectal surgeons and residents.