Purpose:
In 2009, the Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service established a Long Term Follow-up Program (LTFP) for survivors of childhood cancer in Victoria. The State Government Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the program is that 80% of newly diagnosed survivors of childhood cancer will have a long term follow up plan developed and documented through the program. Most LTF programs are able to identify the number of children accessing their service but few are able to quantify the percentage of eligible patients’ across a substantial geographical area (the Sate of Victoria) that have accessed their program. This project was commenced to establish a method that would enable the LTFP to scientifically quantify the percentage of survivors of childhood cancer from the State of Victoria that have accessed the program.
Method:
Annual data was obtained from the VCR, for all new diagnosis, <17years of age from 1990. The VCR survival rate per year was then applied, resulting in a figure that identified the estimated number of survivors at 5 years post diagnosis from the State of Victoria. Using the Government KPI of 80%, the target denominator for each year since 1990 was established. Each new patient presenting at the clinic is entered into the data base, by year of diagnosis. The number of children accessing the program by year of diagnosis is then plotted against the calculated denominator, thus establishing the percentage of State-wide eligible patients seen in the clinic. 100% of patients attending the clinic are provided with their primary treatment summary, recommendations about health surveillance and a documented follow up plan.
Conclusion:
Using this method, we are now able to calculate, on an ongoing basis, the percentage of Victorian survivors of childhood cancer who have accessed the LTFP which is a meaningful key performance indicator for a state-wide program. Â