Annual Report 2024
Division of Policy Evaluation
Yutaka Matsuoka (appointed in May), Yoko Nakazawa, Rich Takahashi, Katsunori Tsuji (appointed in September), Miyuki Komachi (appointed in September)
Introduction
The Division of Policy Evaluation aims to clarify the status of cancer care by collecting and analyzing fundamental data to evaluate the quality of cancer care from the perspective of patients and their families. These efforts contribute to the advancement of cancer control measures in Japan.
The Team and What We Do
Our division conducts research to evaluate and monitor the progress of national cancer control measures. We focus on large-scale surveys, secondary data analyses, and methodological studies, thereby providing evidence to inform policy decisions and to improve the quality of cancer care.
Research Activities
In 2024, as a commissioned project of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, we analyzed survey data collected in 2023 and prepared a report for the progress evaluation of the Fourth Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control. We also conducted a patient experience survey of pediatric cancer patients aged 17 years or younger, based on hospital-based cancer registry cases from 2021 to 2022.
In addition, we examined case-identification algorithms for cancer patients using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) for 2020–2022. This included estimating the number of indicator-related procedures and corresponding patient counts, as part of efforts to measure logic model indicators.
As part of secondary analyses of the nationwide mortality follow-back survey (2019–2020), we published findings on the quality of end-of-life care (QOC) and the quality of death and dying (QOD), stratified by disease type, place of death, and age. Results showed that QOD was highest for home deaths and lowest for hospital deaths due to stroke or pneumonia. The QOC and QOD did not differ significantly between cancer patients and those with non-cancer diseases (heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, pneumonia, and renal failure). In addition, symptom burden tended to decrease with advancing age.
Using 2018 death certificate data, we also analyzed the place of death among cancer patients by hospital function. The results revealed that approximately 70% of hospital deaths occurred outside designated cancer care hospitals. Furthermore, we analyzed patient characteristics with commercial claims data to prepare for the calculation of cancer control indicators using NDB. This analysis revealed regional and age-related variations in the implementation of procedures specified as cancer control indicators.
Future Prospects
We will continue to develop systems for the effective utilization of data accumulated through patient experience surveys and bereaved family surveys. Through these efforts, we aim to deepen our understanding of the experiences of cancer patients and contribute to the improvement of national cancer control policies.
List of papers published in 2024
Journal
1. Xu Y, Liu X, Tsuji K, Hamaoka T, Tabata I. Oxygen uptake during the last bouts of exercise incorporated into high-intensity intermittent cross-exercise exceeds the V˙ O(2)max of the same exercise mode. Sports medicine and health science, 6:63-69, 2024
2. Shirasaki K, Hifumi T, Nakanishi N, Nosaka N, Miyamoto K, Komachi MH, Haruna J, Inoue S, Otani N. Postintensive care syndrome family: A comprehensive review. Acute medicine & surgery, 11:e939, 2024
3. Takahashi R, Nakazawa Y, Miyashita M, Morita T, Okumura Y, Kizawa Y, Kawagoe S, Yamamoto H, Takeuchi E, Yamazaki R, Ogawa A. Enhancing end-of-life care quality and achieving a good death for the elderly in Japan. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, 124:105471, 2024
4. Nakazawa Y, Miyashita M, Morita T, Okumura Y, Kizawa Y, Kawagoe S, Yamamoto H, Takeuchi E, Yamazaki R, Ogawa A. Dying Patients' Quality of Care for Five Common Causes of Death: A Nationwide Mortality Follow-Back Survey. Journal of palliative medicine, 27:1146-1155, 2024
5. Uchida Y, Tsuji K, Ochi E. Effects of Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation and resistance training on skeletal muscle. Clinical nutrition ESPEN, 61:189-196, 2024
6. Harel D, Wu Y, Levis B, Fan S, Sun Y, Xu M, Rice DB, Boruff J, Markham S, Ioannidis JPA, Takwoingi Y, Patten SB, Ziegelstein RC, Cuijpers P, Gilbody S, Vigod S, Akena D, Benedetti A, Thombs BD. Comparison of Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression - Depression subscale scores by administration mode: An individual participant data differential item functioning meta-analysis. Journal of affective disorders, 361:674-683, 2024
7. Shimizu T, Tsuchiya Y, Tsuji K, Ueda H, Izumi S, Ochi E. Flywheel Resistance Training Improves Jump Performance in Athletes and Non-Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. International Journal of Sport and Health Science, 22:61-75, 2024
8. Tsuji K, Tsuchiya Y, Hirano Y, Ochi E. Validation of a somatic maturity prediction model in North America and development of original Japanese model with Ogi Growth Study. International Journal of Sport Studies for Health, 7:36-44, 2024