Since I wrote to you in February, we have completed a review of the complex operations datasets in order to ensure they are fit for purpose in 2011.
The revision of all the complex operation datasets is now complete and these will go live on Monday 11th April on the web-based database.
Since the launch of the datasets in 2004, there have been a number of advances which have meant that these changes are quite extensive. In many cases, free text options have been replaced with drop-down option lists, fields that were no longer felt to be important have been dropped and new fields have been added. The pathology questions in all three datasets (Prostatectomy, Nephrectomy & Cystectomy) have been moved from the follow-up form to the operation form.
Each of the committee will take a role as champions in their own hospitals / networks and will be encouraging their friends and associates to enter data, if necessary, by showing colleagues how to do it. Our aim is to increase, by 25% per year, the number of urologists who enter their data.
Remember that your login to the Data and Audit System is separate from your login to the BAUS website. For the Nuvola System your username is the email address BAUS holds for you - if you have forgotten your password use the ‘Forgotten Password’ link and a new password will be sent to you. If you have any difficulties please contact Sarah Fowler.
Please take the time to look at the new datasets and start adding your data. Since 1 January 2011, I have entered all my data. It has proved straightforward.
Tim O’Brien
Chairman, Section of Oncology
Notes
Historical data
In order that all historical data can still be viewed and analysed and existing patients continued to be followed up, none of the old questions has been removed from the system - instead, branching logic & “show if” commands have been used to ensure that, when a new audit is entered, only the new dataset questions will be displayed. However, if an existing patient is displayed, any data entered into fields no longer in use will be shown.
Notification of data-co-ordinators
All non-members who have access to the system (data-coordinators, administrators for other systems or registries whoimport data) have been e-mailed separately regarding these changes.
Paper proformas
A number of centres who enter data on-line on an individual patient basis have requested that we make available paper proformas for in-house use only where it is impracticable to enter data directly online. Copies of these updated proformas are available on the website should you wish to use them. Let me stress that, if your centre is using these forms, it is assumed that the clinician will fill the form in and then the clinician or another member of staff will enter the data on the online system. Please do not send these forms to the BAUS office as they will be returned to you.
