Radiotherapy Quality-of-Care Indicators for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Consensus Guideline

Publication date: Available online 28 January 2016
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): J. Croke, A. Fyles, L. Barbera, D. D'Souza, R. Pearcey, T. Stuckless, B. Bass, M. Brundage, M. Milosevic
PurposeRadiotherapy plays an important curative role for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). There are no standards to define best practice. The purpose of this study was to develop a suite of radiotherapy key quality of care indicators (KQIs) for the curative management of LACC based on expert consensus.MethodsA modified Delphi method was used after identifying candidate KQIs. Round 1 involved surveying all Canadian GYN radiation oncologists. The current and anticipated future (5 years) importance and current achievability of each KQI was ranked. Round 2 consisted of a facilitated face-to-face meeting with a smaller expert panel to discuss, revise and develop consensus on the KQIs.ResultsThe literature review identified 83 candidate KQIs. Survey response was 71%. Round 2 yielded a final suite of 40 KQIs in the following categories: Pre-treatment assessment, External beam radiotherapy, Brachytherapy, Follow-up and Expertise/Workload. A prominent theme was the importance of having KQIs to measure the current state, evolution and future uptake of MR-guided brachytherapy.ConclusionsTo our knowledge this is the first study establishing radiotherapy KQIs in LACC based on expert consensus. These KQIs should be used to guide programmatic direction and resource allocation to assure consistent and optimal patient care.



from #MedicinebyAlexandrosSfakianakis via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1nT5pct
via IFTTT