Computerised data collection for a cancer centre: a Queensland perspective.

The Queensland Radium Institute has had a computerised database for 15 years but there was little uniformity in the data collected and there was considerable scope for improvement. In 1991 the institute decided to upgrade and standardise its data collection system. The improvements will allow easier access to the data for research and audit purposes. The process was effective and the implementation straightforward because of effective planning and training. This paper outlines the process used in the review and implementation of the new database system and describes the date sets in some detail.