Publications by authors named "Mark E Allen"
Objective: To assess the accuracy of data on "expected source of payment" in the patient discharge database compiled by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).
Data Sources: The OSHPD discharge data for the years 1993 to 1996 linked with administrative data from the University of California (UC) health benefits program for the same years. The linked dataset contains records for all stays in California hospitals by UC employees, retirees, and spouses.
Objective: This study provides revised population-based measurements for the occurrence rates of cancer associated with obstetric delivery and examines perinatal and cancer-related outcomes within the group of women with 4,846,505 obstetric deliveries in California, inclusive of the years 1991 through 1999.
Study Design: This observational study used a population-based retrospective review of cases identified as a result of computer linkage of maternal/neonatal hospital discharge and birth/death records with case files in the California Cancer Registry (CCR). The effect of timing of cancer diagnosis on clinical outcomes was studied by dividing the cases into three groups as follows: "prenatal" for cancer diagnosis within 9 months before delivery, "at delivery" for cancer diagnosis during delivery hospitalization, and "post partum" for cancer diagnosis within 12 months after delivery.
Purpose: Randomized trials have demonstrated that adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival for patients with stage III colon cancer and that chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy improves survival for patients with stage II or III rectal cancer. This population-based study was designed to assess use of these treatments in clinical practice.
Patients And Methods: From the California Cancer Registry, we identified all patients diagnosed during 1996 to 1997 with stage III colon cancer (n = 1,422) and stage II or III rectal cancer (n = 534) in 22 northern California counties.