What is a registry?

A registry is a collection of information about people with a specific condition or who have had a specific intervention. By collecting the same information from many people it is possible to compare the results (or outcomes) of the treatment. The information is held in a database.

What information is collected?

ACORN collects information at three different points in time: before your operation; at discharge from your surgical admission; and at six months after your surgery.

The type of information collected includes:

• Your name, date of birth, address and contact details so we can contact you six months after surgery  Information about your education level and your expectations of your recovery
• Details about your day-to-day function, quality of life, and other illnesses or medical conditions that may influence your recovery
• Information about the reasons for your surgery and your recovery while in hospital
• Contact details for your local doctor and next of kin in case we have difficulty contacting you

 You can download a copy of the Participant Information Sheet for more information. 

How is my privacy protected? 

All information is confidential and cannot be used outside the purposes of the registry. All information is stored securely in a password-protected database. Only approved people involved with the registry have permission to access the information held in the database. Any information stored on paper is kept in locked filing cabinets in a locked office at the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research. 

How is the information collected used?

The information held in the database will be used to compile statistics or reports in such a way as individuals cannot be identified. An Ethics Committee must approve the use of the information before it is used for any other purpose than the registry. 

Information held in the database that identifies individual people can only be disclosed with that persons’ permission, or except as required by law. 

Participation in ACORN
If you have hip or knee replacement at one of the participating hospitals you will be provided with a written information sheet before your operation that explains what is involved in inclusion in the registry. Unless you request not to be included then the hospital will forward your information to the registry.

You are able to “opt-out” of participation at anytime. You can opt-out by contacting the Arthroplasty Clinical Outcomes Registry NSW. You may request specific pieces of information about you are removed and become a partial participant, or you may opt-out completely.

It is important that as many people as possible participate in the registry so that the outcomes are able to be applied, in general, to anyone having a hip or knee replacement. Whether you participate or not does not change your treatment in any way.