A database for cancer uncertainties

In conjunction with the CoCanCPG (Coordination of Cancer Clinical Practice Guidelines in Europe) consortium, NICE (National Institute of Clinical Evidence) developed a database, called DoCU, gathering all the uncertainties in the cancer field.

The database will be in a pilot phase until the end of January 2010. It has been launched to systematically identify evidence gaps or uncertainties, which are often highlighted during guideline development or while analyzing the recommendations included. Therefore the projects, on this basis, aims at prioritizing recommendations for future research.

Uncertainties may arise, for example, due to studies that were methodologically weak, inconclusive results, the enrolment of too few patients, and may include uncertainties about clinical effectiveness of treatments, cost effectiveness, diagnosis, prognosis, appropriate outcome measures and adverse effects.

The database can be searched using text words or predefined fields. New uncertainties can be proposed for consideration, even if this opportunity is currently reserved to the institutions included in the CoCanCPG consortium.