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An IAEA survey of radiotherapy practice including quality assurance extent and depth.
- Source :
-
Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden) [Acta Oncol] 2020 May; Vol. 59 (5), pp. 503-510. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jan 24. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Background: The IAEA recommends a quality assurance program in radiotherapy to ensure safe and effective treatments. In this study, radiotherapy departments were surveyed on their current practice including the extent and depth of quality assurance activities. Methods: Radiotherapy departments were voluntarily surveyed in three stages, firstly, in basic facility information, secondly, in quality assurance activities and treatment techniques, and thirdly, in a snapshot of quality assurance, departmental and treatment activities. Results: The IAEA received completed surveys from 381 radiotherapy departments throughout the world with 100 radiotherapy departments completing all three surveys. Dominant patterns were found in linac-based radiotherapy with access to treatment planning systems for 3D-CRT and 3D imaging. Staffing levels for major staff groups were on average in the range recommended by the IAEA. The modal patient workload per EBRT unit was as expected in the range of 21-30 patients per day, however significant instances of high workload (more than 50 patients per day per treatment unit) were reported. Staffing levels were found to correlate with amount of treatment equipment and patient workload. In a self-assessment of quality assurance performance, most radiotherapy departments reported that they would perform at least 60% of the quality assurance activities itemized in the second survey, with particular strength in equipment quality control. In a snapshot survey of quality assurance performance, again equipment quality control practice was well developed, particularly for the treatment equipment. Conclusions: The IAEA surveys provide a snapshot of current radiotherapy practice including quality assurance activities.
- Subjects :
- Humans
Medical Audit organization & administration
Medical Audit standards
Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital standards
Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital statistics & numerical data
Particle Accelerators standards
Radiation Oncology instrumentation
Radiation Oncology standards
Radiation Oncology statistics & numerical data
Radiotherapy Dosage
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted standards
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted statistics & numerical data
Radiotherapy, Conformal standards
Radiotherapy, Conformal statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires statistics & numerical data
Medical Audit statistics & numerical data
Neoplasms radiotherapy
Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital organization & administration
Radiation Oncology organization & administration
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1651-226X
- Volume :
- 59
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31973620
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2020.1714721