Ovarian Cancer Audit Feasibility Pilot (OCAFP)

The Ovarian Cancer Audit Feasibility Pilot (OCAFP) was a 3 year collaboration between the gynaecological oncology clinical community, the charity sector and the NHS, conducted over the period from 2019 to 2023.

The primary objective of the OCAFP was to explore whether it would be possible to undertake meaningful analyses of routinely collected data for the purpose of improving treatment and outcomes for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in England – the leading cause of gynaecological cancer death for women in England. In achieving this, the project aimed to make the case for an ongoing, publicly funded ovarian cancer audit. This goal was met when the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) announced a national ovarian cancer audit in 2022. The methodologies, successes, limitations, and associated intelligence from the OCAFP are now able to inform the development of the national ovarian cancer audit, which has the potential to build-on and extend the achievements of the OCAFP over the coming years.

The OCAFP was jointly funded by the British Gynaecological Cancer Society, Target Ovarian Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Action, and delivered by analysts within the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS). A Project Steering Group (PSG) met quarterly and oversaw the scope and direction of the pilot with input from senior representatives of each partner organisation. The day-to-day running of the pilot was managed by the Project Management Group (PMG), which comprised representatives of the four organisations and met monthly. This project has been a unique and highly significant achievement, demonstrating that the English clinical community and patient charities can come together with the support of NDRS to substantially improve the evidence required to improve patient care.

Below is an image of the 3 partner organisation logos:

The OCAFP has produced outputs to help demonstrate the value of a regular audit of ovarian cancer, driving improvements in clinical practice and providing a model that can be rolled out across other cancers.

The first report from the OCAFP was the Disease Profile in England: Incidence, mortality, stage and survival for ovary, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal carcinomas published in January 2020.

The second report looked at whether the variation highlighted in the first report could be attributable to differences in clinical practice across regions in England.

The third report investigates factors associated with mortality in the first year after diagnosis for ovary, fallopian and primary peritoneal carcinoma 'ovarian cancer' patients diagnosed between 2013 and 2018. The report also examines to what extent geographical variation occurs at a Cancer Alliance level.  Find out more and view the report

The fourth report is the OCAPF project summary report looking at lessons learned on the feasibility of a national ovarian cancer clinical audit utilising only existing cancer registry, Systemic Anti Cancer Therapy (SACT) and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data.

And the fifth report is a combined refresh of the first and second reports, capturing much more recent patient data.

For more information concerning the audit, please contact Andy Nordin ([email protected]), consultant gynaecologist/sub-specialist gynaecological oncologist.