Table 1 Categories of data to measure adherence to guidelines
| Â | Data items |
Category 1 | Â |
   Population-based cancer registry, with or with linkage to administrative inpatient data | Demographics |
| Â | Site of cancer |
| Â | Morphology |
| Â | Summary staging information at time of diagnosis (local, regional, distant spread) |
| Â | Type and date of inpatient surgery |
| Â | Co-morbidities (pre-existing and complications) |
Category 2 | Â |
   Core clinical registry | Type and date of initial treatments |
| Â | Intent of treatment (curative versus palliative) |
| Â | Clinical (TNM) stage at diagnosis |
| Â | Performance status |
| Â | Specific prognostic factors (e.g., hormone receptor status for breast cancer) |
| Â | Assessment by multidisciplinary team |
| Â | Participation in clinical trial |
Category 3 | Â |
   Extended clinical registry or medical record review | Long-term follow up |
| Â | Management of disease progression |
| Â | Management of complications of cancer therapies (e.g., anti-emetics, heparin) |
| Â | Details of surgical techniques (e.g., omental covering of anastomosis, on-table colonic lavage) |
Category 4 | Â |
   Patient interview | Information sharing between clinicians and patients, for example |
   Audio-taping of consultation |    • Method of breaking bad news |
|  |    • Inquiries about how spouse and children were coping |
|  |    • Resolution of family conflicts |
|  |    • Information provided to help woman choose between breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy |