A Web-based 'Patterns of Care Study' System for Clinical Radiation Oncology in Korea: Development, Launching, and Characteristics.
- Author:
Il Han KIM
1
;
Eui Kyu CHIE
;
Do Hoon OH
;
Chang Ok SUH
;
Jong Hoon KIM
;
Yong Chan AHN
;
Won Joo HUR
;
Woong Ki CHUNG
;
Doo Ho CHOI
;
Jae Won LEE
Author Information
1. Therapeutic Radiology, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. ihkim@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Radiotherapy;
Patterns of care study;
Web;
Clinical QA
- MeSH:
Brain;
Breast;
Computer Security;
Data Collection;
Esophagus;
Ethics Committees, Research;
Korea*;
Larynx;
Lung;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Radiation Oncology*;
Radiotherapy;
Rectum
- From:The Journal of the Korean Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
2003;21(4):291-298
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: We report upon a web-based system for Patterns of Care Study (PCS) devised for Korean radiation oncology. This PCS was designed to establish standard tools for clinical quality assurance, to determine basic parameters for radiation oncology processes, to offer a solid system for cooperative clinical studies and a useful standard database for comparisons with other national databases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The system consisted of a main server with two back-ups in other locations. The program uses a Linux operating system and a MySQL database. Cancers with high frequencies in radiotherapy departments in Korea from 1998 to 1999 were chosen to have a developmental priority. RESULTS: The web-based clinical PCS system for radiotherapy in www.pcs.re.kr was developed in early 2003 for cancers of the breast, rectum, esophagus, larynx and lung, and for brain metastasis. The total number of PCS study items exceeded one thousand. Our PCS system features user-friendliness, double entry checking, data security, encryption, hard disc mirroring, double back-up, and statistical analysis. Alphanumeric data can be input as well as image data. In addition, programs were constructed for IRB submission, random sampling of data, and departmental structure. CONCLUSION: For the first time in the field of PCS, we have developed a web-based system and associated working programs. With this system, we can gather sample data in a short period and thus save, cost, effort and time. Data audits should be performed to validate input data. We propose that this system should be considered as a standard method for PCS or similar types of data collection systems.
