Sharjah: The Pink Caravan initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients organisation has developed a new method to record patient statistics during their annual national screening campaign.
The group, which raises awareness about breast cancer, used the new system for the first time during the Pink Caravan’s third annual horseback journey in the UAE.
The new documentation application involves the use of electronic tablets for easy patient registration, examination and record management and enables a high level of data accuracy as there is no need to transfer from paper to electronic. The programme includes dynamic survey capabilities and reliable post-survey analysis to measure the impact of the awareness drive.
“The patient record management programme, which forms phase I of the IT solution — has reduced the possibility of human error as it does not require an additional data capturer post campaign to transfer data and is helping to save precious time and keeping costs low,” said Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, secretary general for the FoCP and Head of the Pink Caravan’s Medical and Awareness committee.
Dr Sawsan said Phase II will use the same capability to include other types of cancers.
While the new system will ensure almost 100 per cent accurate data on the status of cancer in the country, Dr Sawsan said the UAE still lacks definitive and reliable information and statistics about the demographics and prevalence of cancer in the country. “The gathering of this information is crucial to the creation of effective and efficient treatment and cancer preventative programmes in the country and for the accurate allocation of resources,” she added.
