- Journal
- EUROPEAN UROLOGY
- Année
- 2019
- Volume
- 76
- Numéro
- 2
- Pages
- 179-186
- Mois
- AUG
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.eururo.2019.01.033
Abstract
Background: High-quality management of prostate cancer is needed in the fields of clinics, research, and education. Objective: The objective of this project was to develop the concept of ``European Prostate Cancer Centres of Excellence'' (EPCCE), with the specific aim of identifying European centres characterised by high-quality cancer care, research, and education. Design, setting, and participants: A task force of experts aimed at identifying the general criteria to define the EPCCE. Discussion took place in conference calls and by e-mail from March 2017 to November 2017, and the final consensus meeting named ``European Association of Urology (EAU) Prostate Cancer Centre Consensus Meeting'' was held in Barcelona on November 16, 2017. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The required criteria were grouped into three main steps: (1) clinics, (2) research, and (3) education. A quality control approach for the three steps was defined. Results and limitations: The definition of EPCCE consisted of the following steps: (1) clinical step-five items were identified and classified as core team, associated services, multidisciplinary approach, diagnostic pathway, and therapeutic pathway; (2) research step-internal monitoring of outcomes was required; clinical data had to be collected through a prespecified database, clinical outcomes had to be periodically assessed, and prospective trials had to be conducted; (3) educational step-it consists of structured fellowship programmes of 1 yr, including 6 mo of research and 6 mo of clinics; and (4) quality assurance and quality control procedures, related to the quality assessment of the previous three steps. A limitation of this project was that the definition of standards and items was mainly based on a consensus among experts rather than being an evidence-based process. Conclusions: The EAU Prostate Cancer Centre Consensus Meeting defined the criteria for the identification of the EPCCE in the fields of clinics, research, and education. The inclusion of a quality control approach represents the novelty that supports the excellence of these centres. Patient summary: A task force of experts defined the criteria for the identification of European Prostate Cancer Centres of Excellence, in order to certify the high-quality centres for prostate cancer management. (C) 2019 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.