Providing a Conceptual Object-Oriented Model for Hospital-Based Colorectal Cancer Registry: Cross-Sectional Study

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer mortality and the third most common cancer in the world. Systematic studies in Iran have also shown that this cancer has a growing trend in incidence rates for both genders. Given the role of information management and registries in tracking patients and improving the quality of treatment for this disease, the purpose of this study is to design an object-oriented conceptual model for a hospital-based colorectal cancer registry.

This applied-descriptive study was conducted in two phases, including conceptual model design and model validation. In the first phase, an expert panel was formed to identify the necessary data sets and requirements for a conceptual model of a hospital colorectal cancer registry, based on a review of similar studies and monitoring of the cancer registration process at a hospital. The conceptual model development process was carried out by adopting a modeling approach in three parts, including the design of an operational model, a structural model, and a behavioral model using Microsoft Visio software. In the second phase, the conceptual model was validated through a researcher-made questionnaire of 55 questions based on a three-choice Likert scale by 20 experts.

In the first stage, 42 core data sets in five categories (demographic information, diagnostic information, treatment information, clinical status assessment, and clinical trials), six registry processes (including case finding, data collection, summarization, quality control, reporting, and follow-up), and 22 functional requirements and 6 non-functional requirements were designed. This model was developed in three operational, structural, and behavioral dimensions by drawing requirement diagrams and then validated in two stages using the Delphi technique with the participation of 20 experts. The presented model was approved with an average agreement of over 99% and a final consensus of the experts.

The proposed model will facilitate the design and implementation of a single registry within a medical or research institution to record patient information and track follow-ups. Implementing this system will result in significant improvements compared to semi-electronic or traditional paper registries and can have far greater capabilities and enhanced performance.