Background: The colorectal cancer record audit (CCRA) component of the Improving Cancer Outcomes Project (ICOP) was initiated and funded by the Victorian Department of Health to; examine pathways of treatment for people with colorectal cancer in the Grampians Region, and to establish whether these pathways aligned well with best practice for this tumour stream.
Method: The audit criteria were confined to adult residents of the Grampians with a first diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the 2012-13 financial year, as identified by ICD-10 diagnostic codes in VAED admissions data. All health services in the region providing treatment for people with colorectal cancer were invited to take part. Each of the participating health services supplied resources in the form of staff to conduct the audit. The Department of Health determined appropriate sample sizes for the overall project and for each participating health service. They also selected the patient cohort randomly from the pool of patients who met the audit criteria. The data was later collated and analysed by the Health Informatics Unit at Federation University, Ballarat.
Results: Six health services took part in the audit and audited a total of 205 records. All aspects of colorectal cancer treatment were examined including radiotherapy data and, where accessible, chemotherapy regimens. Treatments which were undertaken outside of the Grampians region were not included. Several pathways of care were identified and will be expanded upon.
Conclusion: The analysis phase of the project is nearing completion at time of abstract submission and results will be presented. Cancer care in the Grampians region will benefit from insights which the project will provide.