Preparation for monitoring the quality of cancer treatment

The establishment of a national cancer quality registry or a similar monitoring of the quality and effectiveness of care is being investigated as a joint research project between the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Finnish Cancer Center FICAN and the Cancer Society of Finland.

The research results will be utilised in the development of the national quality register or similar monitoring system for the treatment of different types of cancer as part of the current Finnish Cancer Registry. A suitable division of labour between THL, the Finnish Cancer Registry maintained by the Cancer Society of Finland and the Finnish Cancer Center will also be investigated during the project period.

Goals

The primary objective of the study is to investigate the implementation of treatment and treatment outcomes for selected cancers in Finland.

The first national quality indicators for cancer treatment will also be created and tested on a selected, separately defined patient population. The implementation of treatment will be investigated by assessing chronological changes in treatment (including surgery, radiotherapy and pharmacotherapy), their variation by region and the treatment results. 

The study will also monitor data quality and develop ways to improve the quality and coverage of data.

Implementation

Patients will be identified from the data of the KELA and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in the Finnish Cancer Registry. The patients’ municipalities of residence during the year in which they were diagnosed, and the monitoring of their survival rate will be carried out via the Population Information System. THL continuously submits data to the Finnish Cancer Registry maintained by the Cancer Society of Finland. 

This is a follow-up study. Register data will be collected from 1998. The data will be updated approximately once a year until the end of 2026. 

Funding

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Cancer Society of Finland and Finnish Cancer Center FICAN

Partners

Cancer Society of Finland, Finnish Cancer Center (FICAN)

Contact details

Jonna Salonen

Chief Physician
tel. +358 29 524 7171
[email protected]

Janne Pitkäniemi

Director, Cancer Society of Finland
tel. +358 50 372 3335
[email protected]

Timo Nykopp

Chief Physician, Finnish Cancer Center FICAN
[email protected]

Updated:

Management of social and health services