European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists/Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance quality indicators for metastatic breast cancer care

Abstract

Aims: Improvement in the care of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) can only occur if the adequate quality of care is implemented and verified, including access to multidisciplinary, specialised care given in accordance with high-quality guidelines. To this purpose, European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists and the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance joined efforts to develop the first set of quality indicators (QI) specifically for MBC that should be routinely measured and evaluated to ensure that breast cancer centres meet the required standards.

Methods: A working group of multidisciplinary European experts in breast cancer met to discuss each identified QI, reporting the definition, the minimum and target standard for breast cancer centres to achieve, and the motivation for selection. The level of evidence was determined according to the short version of the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality classification.

Results: QI to measure access to and involvement in multidisciplinary and supportive care, appropriate pathological characterisation of disease, systemic therapies and radiotherapy were developed with the consensus of the working group.

Conclusions: This is the first effort of a multistep project that aims to have QI for MBC routinely measured and evaluated to ensure that breast cancer centres achieve mandated standards in the care of patients with metastatic disease.

Keywords: Advanced breast cancer; Metastatic breast cancer; Multidisciplinary care; Outcome; Quality control; Quality indicators; Quality of cancer care; Quality of life.