The Anyang Esophageal Cancer Cohort Study: Study Design, Implementation of Fieldwork, and Use of Computer-Aided Survey System

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 7; no. 2; p. e31602
• Main Authors: Liu, Fangfang, Guo, Fangcen, Zhou, Yue, He, Zhonghu, Tian, Xiuyun, Guo, Chuanhai, Ning, Tao, Pan, Yaqi, Cai, Hong, Ke, Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 06.02.2012; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; CAD; Cancer; Cancer research; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - virology; Cells, Cultured; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Computer aided design; Computer Science; Custom designed; Customization; Data management; Developing countries; Endoscopes; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epidemiology; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Esophageal Neoplasms - virology; Esophagus; Fieldwork; Health aspects; Health risk assessment; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Infection; Infections; LDCs; Male; Medicine; Middle Aged; Papillomaviridae - pathogenicity; Papillomavirus infections; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Patient safety; Physicians; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Population studies; Prospective Studies; Quality control; Quality management; Recruitment; Squamous cell carcinoma; Studies; Surveys; Tissues; Wireless networks; Workflow; Workflow software; Beijing China; China
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031602

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been observed repeatedly in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues. However, the causal relationship between HPV infection and the onset of ESCC remains unknown. A large cohort study focusing on this topic is being carried out in rural Anyang, China. The Anyang Esophageal Cancer Cohort Study (AECCS) is a population-based prospective endoscopic cohort study designed to investigate the association of HPV infection and ESCC. This paper provides information regarding the design and implementation of this study. In particular we describe the recruitment strategies and quality control procedures which have been put into place, and the custom designed computer-aided survey system (CASS) used for this project. This system integrates barcode technology and unique identification numbers, and has been developed to facilitate real-time data management throughout the workflow using a wireless local area network. A total of 8,112 (75.3%) of invited subjects participated in the baseline endoscopic examination; of those invited two years later to take part in the first cycle of follow-up, 91.9% have complied. The AECCS study has high potential for evaluating the causal relationship between HPV infection and the occurrence of ESCC. The experience in setting up the AECCS may be beneficial for others planning to initiate similar epidemiological studies in developing countries.