The first results from the CancerWatch survey are now published!
Earlier this year, we reported the exceptional engagement of the European cancer registry community in the largest and most comprehensive survey of its kind. Of 192 population-based cancer registries invited across 45 countries, 175 completed the survey, representing a response rate of 91.1%.
Now, the first scientific analysis provides a detailed picture of the European population-based cancer registry landscape, showing both strong foundations and important differences across countries and registries:
• 28 European countries operate a single national population-based cancer registry covering their entire population, while six additional countries integrate data from regional registries into a national dataset.
• 69% of countries provide cancer incidence data within two years of diagnosis.
• Digital infrastructure and data integration capacity vary substantially across Europe. More than 60% of general population based cancer registries operate within national medical data exchange systems that are partially interconnected and characterised by heterogeneous database and IT infrastructures.
And this is only the first analysis.
The CancerWatch survey covers more than 700 items across 15 thematic areas, providing a rich evidence base for further analyses and a better understanding of the strengths, differences and needs of cancer registries across Europe.