Prognostic survey at the Miyagi Cancer Center

Abstract

Of cancer patients in the hospital-based cancer registry at the Miyagi Cancer Center, 3,499 patients diagnosed, operated on or initially admitted between 2000 and 2008 without information about their vital status in 2012 were followed up by accessing resident registration cards and permanent domicile data. In addition, information on death certificates was requested from the Ministry of Justice for cause of death. After referring to resident registration cards, the vital status for 99.3% of patients was ascertained, and the vital status for another 0.5% of patients was identified through permanent domicile data. That is, the proportion of patients with known vital status was 99.8% at the end of the investigation. Charges for investigating via resident registration cards and permanent domicile data totaled 963,150 yen and 221,000 yen, respectively. Information on resident registration cards was available for a fee in almost all municipalities, but 4 cities and 1 district refused to provide information because they were not permitted to do so to the local incorporated administrative agency. Furthermore, even in those municipalities permitted to provide information from resident registration cards, detailed explanations and responses to the request for related materials were needed. Therefore, it took three months to complete the investigation using resident registration cards due to the time and effort needed for information requests from the municipalities. In contrast, investigations through permanent domicile data required no additional time or effort and took only a month to finish because certification from the national government for this investigation was part of the application process. If certification from the national or local government is available or if a clear legal basis exists for providing requested information, investigations using resident registration cards proceed smoothly and reduce the length of these investigations.