OBJECTIVES: The aim of this project was to design, develop, and implement a head and neck cancer computer database for clinical and scientific use. METHODS: A relational database based on Filemaker Pro 6.0 was developed and integrated into our local network. A precise and easy-to-handle interface should allow for a quick overview of the patient's oncological history and for optimized data acquisition. An automatic report function was integrated to enhance the quality of daily patient care. For evaluation purposes, statistical analysis functions were implemented. RESULTS: Over a 14-month period, 410 patient records were available through the local network. The automated report function and the well-organized screen desktop resulted in time-efficient and accurate patient care. Additionally, the quality of information presented to referring physicians increased notably. The statistical analysis data provided by the database were reliable and easy to export. CONCLUSIONS: We developed an oncology database for both clinical and scientific purposes and integrated it successfully into our patient documentation system. The combination of clinical and scientific features proved to be very effective in daily routine and research.
