In collaboration with the Federal Expertise Centre for Health Care (KCE) and the Flemish Institute for Quality of Care (VIKZ), the Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR) evaluated the quality of care and outcomes for patients diagnosed with breast cancer (invasive or ductal carcinoma in situ) between 2014 and 2018 in an accredited coordinating breast clinic, satellite breast clinic or non-accredited breast clinic in Belgium.
The aim of the project was to assess the quality of care provided to breast cancer patients using various process indicators, both at the diagnostic and treatment levels. In addition, several outcome indicators were calculated which were calculated, not only at Belgian level, but also at hospital and campus level, to reflect the distribution of care.
The quality indicators were selected and developed in collaboration with KCE, VIKZ and a group of clinical experts based on guidelines from the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) and other international reports. For the calculations, the BCR used data from the cancer registry and data on reimbursed medical procedures and drugs obtained from the Intermutualistic Agency (IMA-AIM). The results were submitted to all Belgian hospitals for validation, enabling the methodology to be optimized for the final analyses.
The results of this study were published in KCE Report 365C and in the form of scientific publications. In addition, each hospital received an individual BCR report to encourage self-reflection and improvements in care.
Publications:
- Leroy R, De Gendt C, Bourgeois J, Verbeeck J, Savoye I, Silversmit G, Van Damme N, Carly B, Colpaert C, Cusumano P, De Visschere P, Decloedt J, Desreux J, Duhoux F, Moretti L, Roman M, Taylor D, Veldeman L, Verhoeven D, Wildiers H. Survival and Quality of care offered in Belgian hospitals with and without recognition for breast cancer. Health Services Research (HSR). Brussels. Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE). 2023. KCE Reports 365C. DOI: 10.57598/R365C. (Survival and Quality of care offered in Belgian hospitals)
- Leroy R, Silversmit G, Bourgeois J, De Gendt C, Savoye I, Verbeeck J, Van Damme N, Stordeur S, Canon JL, Carly B, Cusumano PG, de Azambuja E, De Visschere P, Decloedt J, Desreux J, Duhoux FP, Taylor D, van Dam P, Vanhoutte I, Veldeman L, Wildiers H. Higher relative survival in breast cancer patients treated in certified and high-volume breast cancer centres - A population-based study in Belgium. Eur J Cancer 2024:Oct;210:114232. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.114232.
- Leroy R, De Gendt C, Bourgeois J, Verbeeck J, Savoye I, Van Damme N, Stordeur S, De Visschere P, Taylor D, Wildiers H, Canon JL, Carly B, Cusumano PG, de Azambuja E, Desreux J, Duhoux FP, van Dam P, Verhoeven D, Veldeman L. The Challenge of Calculating EUSOMA Quality Indicators with Administrative Data: A Pilot Study in Belgium. Breast Care (Basel). 2025 Apr;20(2):88-94. doi: 10.1159/000543676. Epub 2025 Feb 3. PMID: 40256675; PMCID: PMC12005693.
