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Radiation therapists’ compliance to a palliative imaging protocol: a case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2018

J. Cvetkova ,
T. O’Donovan ,
A. Craig  and
L. Mullaney
J. Cvetkova
Affiliation:
Applied Radiation Therapy Trinity, Discipline of Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
T. O’Donovan
Affiliation:
Radiation Oncology Department, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
A. Craig
Affiliation:
Applied Radiation Therapy Trinity, Discipline of Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
L. Mullaney*
Affiliation:
Applied Radiation Therapy Trinity, Discipline of Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
*
Correspondence to: Laura Mullaney, Discipline of Radiation Therapy, Trinity College Dublin, Trinity Building for Health Sciences, St James’s Hospital Campus, Dublin 8, Ireland. Tel: +353 1 896 3254. E-mail: laura.mullaney@tcd.ie
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Abstract

Background

Imaging protocols are implemented to identify and minimise set-up errors. A crucial component to the success of these protocols is staff compliance.

Materials and methods

This is case report describing a retrospective review of radiation therapists’ compliance to a palliative imaging protocol in a single large institution in one calendar year.

Results

The review showed a non-compliance to protocol for 8% of treatments. The most frequent protocol deviation was a failure to calculate the mean set-up displacement after 2/3 days of consecutive imaging.

Conclusion

Despite the presence of institutional evidence-based palliative imaging protocol unwanted deviations in practice can occur.

Keywords

imaging protocols and palliative radiotherapypalliative imagingquality assurancetreatment verification
Type
Case Study
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , June 2018 , pp. 253 - 256
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2018 

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