Dataset Information

A survey of radiation treatment planning peer-review activities in a provincial radiation oncology programme: current practice and future directions.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To describe current patterns of practice of radiation oncology peer review within a provincial cancer system, identifying barriers and facilitators to its use with the ultimate aim of process improvement.

Design

A survey of radiation oncology programmes at provincial cancer centres.

Setting

All cancer centres within the province of Ontario, Canada (n=14). These are community-based outpatient facilities overseen by Cancer Care Ontario, the provincial cancer agency.

Participants

A delegate from each radiation oncology programme filled out a single survey based on input from their multidisciplinary team.

Outcome measures

Rated importance of peer review; current utilisation; format of the peer-review process; organisation and timing; case attributes; outcomes of the peer-review process and perceived barriers and facilitators to expanding peer-review processes.

Results

14 (100%) centres responded. All rated the importance of peer review as at least 8/10 (10=extremely important). Detection of medical error and improvement of planning processes were the highest rated perceived benefits of peer review (each median 9/10). Six centres (43%) reviewed at least 50% of curative cases; four of these centres (29%) conducted peer review in more than 80% of cases treated with curative intent. Fewer than 20% of cases treated with palliative intent were reviewed in most centres. Five centres (36%) reported usually conducting peer review prior to the initiation of treatment. Five centres (36%) recorded the outcomes of peer review on the medical record. Thirteen centres (93%) planned to expand peer-review activities; a critical mass of radiation oncologists was the most important limiting factor (median 6/10).

Conclusions

Radiation oncology peer-review practices can vary even within a cancer system with provincial oversight. The application of guidelines and standards for peer-review processes, and monitoring of implementation and outcomes, will require effective knowledge translation activities.

SUBMITTER: Brundage M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3731715 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A survey of radiation treatment planning peer-review activities in a provincial radiation oncology programme: current practice and future directions.

Brundage Michael M Foxcroft Sophie S McGowan Tom T Gutierrez Eric E Sharpe Michael M Warde Padraig P

BMJ open 20130731 7

<h4>Objectives</h4>To describe current patterns of practice of radiation oncology peer review within a provincial cancer system, identifying barriers and facilitators to its use with the ultimate aim of process improvement.<h4>Design</h4>A survey of radiation oncology programmes at provincial cancer centres.<h4>Setting</h4>All cancer centres within the province of Ontario, Canada (n=14). These are community-based outpatient facilities overseen by Cancer Care Ontario, the provincial cancer agency ...[more]

PMID: 23903814

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Dataset Information

A survey of radiation treatment planning peer-review activities in a provincial radiation oncology programme: current practice and future directions.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

A survey of radiation treatment planning peer-review activities in a provincial radiation oncology programme: current practice and future directions.

Similar Datasets

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