1727P - Barriers and facilitators of physician involvement in clinical oncology database management in Ukraine

Background

Oncology databases/cancer registries can help facilitate quality cancer care and novel research. Their maintenance remains challenging in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We explored barriers and facilitators of oncology database maintenance in Ukraine.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of oncology physicians at the Ukraine National Cancer Institute (NCI) to explore barriers and facilitators of oncology database data entry and use. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via hybrid analysis.

Results

13 physicians were interviewed, including 6 (46%) junior and 7 (54%) senior NCI faculty. All were aware of local or international oncology databases. 10 (77%) entered patient data into them, including 7 (54%) to international and 8 (62%) to local databases. 6 (69%) thought that most of their oncology colleagues in Ukraine are not aware of the existence or value of cancer databases. The following themes have been identified: perceived benefits of cancer databases included improving patient care, research, standardizing clinical practice, care monitoring, and quality improvement. Obstacles of data entry included: time required, low quality of medical documentation, complex online interface. Some thought that physicians should be responsible for data entry, while others thought it should be done by nonmedical providers. Facilitators of data entry included appointing a physician leader to oversee quality and engagement, direct direction from supervisor, use for research publication or as part of a project of personal interest, monetary compensation, collaborating with colleagues abroad, data entry training.

Conclusions

Factors affecting data entry into and use of local and international cancer databases by oncology physicians in Ukraine included perceived benefits for career and patient care, required time, requirements from leadership, database technology characteristics. Given limited resources for local and population-based cancer registry maintenance in Ukraine and other LMICs, novel low-cost strategies for this are urgently needed.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.