Validation of an algorithm for identifying incident cancer cases based on long-term illness and diagnosis related group program data from the French National Health Insurance Information System (SNDS).

PURPOSE: Three generic claims-based algorithms based on the Illness Classification of Diseases (10th revision- ICD-10) codes, French Long-Term Illness (LTI) data, and the Diagnosis Related Group program (DRG) were developed to identify retirees with cancer using data from the French national health insurance information system (Système national des données de santé or SNDS) which covers the entire French population. The present study aimed to calculate the algorithms' performances and to describe false positives and negatives in detail. METHODS: Between 2011 and 2016, data from 7544 participants of the French retired self-employed craftsperson cohort (ESPrI) were first matched to the SNDS data, and then toFrench population-based cancer registries data, used as the gold standard. Performance indicators, such as sensitivity and positive predictive values, were estimated for the three algorithms in a subcohort of ESPrI. RESULTS: The third algorithm, which combined the LTI and DRG program data, presented the best sensitivities (90.9%-100%) and positive predictive values (58.1%-95.2%) according to cancer sites. The majority of false positives were in fact nearby organ sites (e.g., stomach for esophagus) and carcinoma in situ. Most false negatives were probably due to under declaration of LTI. CONCLUSION: Validated algorithms using data from the SNDS can be used for passive epidemiological follow-up for some cancer sites in the ESPrI cohort.

Development and preliminary psychometric investigation of the German Satisfaction with Comprehensive Cancer Care (SCCC) Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: The assessment of patient satisfaction during treatment is essential to provide patient-centered high-quality cancer care. Nevertheless, no German instrument assesses patient satisfaction with comprehensive cancer care, which not only includes oncological treatment, but also interpersonal quality of care as well as psychosocial support services. Based on the French REPERES-60, we developed the German Patient Satisfaction with Comprehensive Cancer Care (SCCC) questionnaire. METHODS: The REPERES-60 was translated and the items were adapted to make it applicable to the German healthcare system and across different tumor entities. Scales of the resulting instrument were extracted via principal axis factoring (PAF). Subsequently, we investigated the reliability (Cronbach's Alpha, CA), discriminatory power (corrected item-scale correlations) and convergent validity (pre-specified correlations of the SCCC with different outcomes). RESULTS: The SCCC consisted of 32 items which were subsequently tested among a sample of 333 patients across different tumor entities (response rate: 47%). Average age was 59 years (standard deviation: 14), 63% were male. PAF revealed four multi-item scales named Competence, Information, Access and Support accounting for 71% of the variance. Two single-items scales assess global satisfaction with medical and psychosocial care, respectively. CA across the multi-item scales ranged from .84 to .96. Discriminatory power was sufficiently high, with all r ≥ .5. Convergent validity was largely verified by negative associations of the four multi-item scales with depressive/anxious symptomatology (r ≥ - .18, p < .01) and fatigue/overall symptom burden (r ≥ - .14, p < .01). CONCLUSION: We developed a tool to assess patient satisfaction with comprehensive cancer care in Germany. The SCCC showed satisfactory psychometric properties. Further studies are needed to verify these preliminary findings.

Evaluation of the French national plan to promote screening and early management of viral hepatitis C, between 1997 and 2003: a comparative cross-sectional study in Poitou-Charentes region.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this repeated cross-sectional survey was to document trends in screening practices, to analyze the evolution of the epidemiological characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and to evaluate the implementation of hepatitis C management guidelines. METHODS: Medical laboratories in Poitou-Charentes region were surveyed on serological tests for HCV infection prescribed during two 2-month periods in 1997 and 2000, and a 4-month period in 2003. An epidemiological questionnaire and a 12-month follow-up questionnaire were addressed to physicians who prescribed tests that were positive. RESULTS: The annual screening coverage rate increased by 40% during the study period, whereas the number of positive tests fell by 53%. The estimated detection rate of new cases decreased from 43 to 26 per 100 000 inhabitants between 1997 and 2003. In 2003, 56% of serological tests were prescribed to patients who already knew that they were HCV-seropositive. The frequencies of the two main risk factors (transfusion and intravenous drug use) slightly decreased. Management of newly diagnosed patients was inappropriate in 42% of cases in 1997, 33% in 2000, and 34% in 2003; 26% of the participants at the three periods declined follow-up. Among drug users, the proportion of treated patients remained stable (17%). One-third of the drug users were lost to follow-up by their family doctor. CONCLUSION: Campaigns to encourage HCV screening have been effective, but the number of newly diagnosed cases has fallen markedly. National campaigns targeting the general public and healthcare professionals seem to have had no impact on patient management: in particular, drug users still do not receive adequate follow-up.