Cancer registration methods

Training of registry staff helps to increase the quality and comparability of cancer registry data - one of the aims of the ENCR. In order to maintain a standard course content, a core curriculum has been established, based on a collection of previously-used teaching materials. In addition, detailed supporting material for teaching tumour pathology has been prepared by Dr. Antoine Buemi from Haut-Rhin Cancer Registry in France. It will be available in English, French and Spanish.

The main topics covered by these courses are:

• History, purposes and use of cancer registration
• Natural history of cancer and general pathology
• Data sources, definitions and collection
• Classification and coding of collected data
• Quality control and completeness of cancer registration
• Computers/computer systems/automation of cancer registration
• Statistical analysis and presentation of results
• Legal aspects and confidentiality

These 1-week courses are organized once a year in different European countries. The teaching language is generally that of the organizing country. Such wide geographical coverage helps to meet needs for formal training of the cancer registry personnel on regional level.
The faculty is constituted of both nationally and internationally recognized professionals with rich experience in the field of cancer registration.
The courses are free of charge, while participants are expected to be responsible for their travel and accomodation. A limited number of ENCR fellowships is made available to participants.