Nonmalignant meningioma and vestibular schwannoma incidence trends in the United States, 2004-2017.

Background: Given concerns about risks associated with the growing use of mobile phones over recent decades, the authors analyzed temporal trends in incidence rates of nonmalignant meningioma and vestibular schwannoma in the United States.

Methods: The incidence of nonmalignant meningioma and vestibular schwannoma among adults in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 registries during 2004 through 2017 was evaluated according to the method of diagnosis: microscopically (MC) or radiographically confirmed (RGC). Annual percent changes (APCs) and 95% CIs were estimated using log-linear models.

Melanoma Tumor Depth Quality Audit: A Nonmatch Analysis.

Background: The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Research Program (SRP) received reports from cancer registries in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program concerning the coding of melanoma tumor depth. To address these concerns, SRP developed an algorithm to identify melanoma depth measurement values and conducted a nonmatch analysis.

Methods: A nonmatch analysis was conducted on 1,117 cases diagnosed between 2010 and 2017.

Leveraging a Partnership to Disseminate and Implement What Works in Family Planning and Reproductive Health: The Implementing Best Practices (IBP) Initiative.

The IBP initiative, a WHO-based partnership of NGOs, civil society organizations, governments, academic institutions, and other implementing partners, promotes evidence-based global guidelines, tools, and other interventions for local application, and incorporates implementation experience and learning back into the global discourse.

Medical Record-Documented TNM Categories and Stage Group: Feasibility of Use for Cancer Surveillance.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In 2016, with the discontinuation of the Collaborative Staging system, the cancer surveillance community planned to rely on physician-assigned TNM stage documented in the medical record. The objectives of this study were to describe how often physician-assigned staging components were documented in the medical records accessible to the registrar and to assess the agreement of these physician-assigned components with registrar-assigned values. METHODS: Medical record documents for 282 routine cases from 5 cancer sites were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries.

Validation of prostate-specific antigen laboratory values recorded in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries.

Background: Researchers have used prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values collected by central cancer registries to evaluate tumors for potential aggressive clinical disease. An independent study collecting PSA values suggested a high error rate (18%) related to implied decimal points. To evaluate the error rate in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, a comprehensive review of PSA values recorded across all SEER registries was performed.

Availability of TNM Staging Data Elements in the Medical Record and Training Needs Assessment: Results from the 2014 SEER Training Needs Assessment for TNM Study.

Background: In 2016, the cancer registry community will directly assign T, N and M components of stage. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program implemented a field study to determine how often T, N and M were not available in the medical record, requiring the registrar to directly assign clinical or pathologic TNM stage components. The field study also identified specific training needs.

Leveraging the Power of Knowledge Management to Transform Global Health and Development.

Good knowledge is essential to prevent disease and improve health. Knowledge management (KM) provides a systematic process and tools to promote access to and use of knowledge among health and development practitioners to improve health and development outcomes. KM tools range from publications and resources (briefs, articles, job aids) and products and services (websites, eLearning courses, mobile applications), to training and events (workshops, webinars, meetings) and approaches and techniques (peer assists, coaching, after-action reviews, knowledge cafés).

Bladder cancer collaborative stage variables and their data quality, usage, and clinical implications: a review of SEER data, 2004-2010.

Background: Several changes were made to bladder cancer staging guidelines between the 6th and 7th editions of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging Manual. Also, Collaborative Stage (CS) Data Collection System version 2 (CSv2) implemented for 2010 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cases involved collection of 3 new site-specific factors (SSFs): World Health Organization/International Society of Urological pathology grade (SSF1), size of metastasis in regional lymph nodes (SSF2), and extranodal extension (SSF3). Our objective was to evaluate these new SSFs to assist researchers in their use/interpretation and to describe data quality issues to be addressed moving forward.

mHealth resources to strengthen health programs.

A suite of resources provides implementation guidance for mHealth initiatives, particularly in less developed countries. The suite includes an eLearning course, online guide, evidence database, and a High-Impact Practices brief, along with the mHealth Working Group and website.

Meeting the health information needs of health workers: what have we learned?

The information challenges facing health workers worldwide include lack of routine systems for seeking and sharing information, lack of high-quality and current health information, and lack of locally relevant materials and tools. This issue of Journal of Health Communication presents three studies of health information needs in India, Senegal, and Malawi that demonstrate these information challenges, provide additional insight, and describe innovative strategies to improve knowledge and information sharing. Results confirm that health workers' information needs differ on the basis of the level of the health system in which a health worker is located, regardless of country or cultural context.

SEER and NAACCR data completeness methods: how do they impact data quality in Central Cancer Registries?

There are 2 widely accepted methods for calculating data completeness in central cancer registries: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program's data completeness method and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries' (NAACCR's) data completeness method. In recent years, the pros and cons of these methods have been discussed and debated by CTRs nationwide. The results from a myriad of studies have shown that each method offers its own set of strengths and unique applications.