From: Multicentre clinical radiotherapy audit in rectal cancer: results of the IROCA project
PROCESS OR INDICATOR | FINDING | RECOMMENDED ACTION |
---|---|---|
DIAGNOSTIC AND PRE-TREATMENT PHASE | ||
Presentation to MTB | ● 75.6% of cases presented to MTB (range, 50–95%). | ● Present all cases to MTB ● Implement quality control measures to ensure registration of data in 100% of cases |
Presentation at departmental clinical session | ● 63.8% of cases presented | ● Establish clear criteria for presenting cases to clinical sessions ● Consider using mini-tumour boards comprised of radiation oncologists specialising in the specific tumour type/location |
Staging MRI | ● 67.0% of cases (range, 10.3 to 95%) | ● Implement measures to raise MRI-based staging to 100% |
Participation in clinical trial | ● 6.3% (range, 0 to 25%) | ● At centres with low rates, seek to increase the percentage of patients participating in clinical trials |
TREATMENT PHASE | ||
Median time between biopsy and first visit to RT | ● 37.6 days (range, 21.6–58.6) | ● Implement measures to reduce this time interval |
Median time elapsed between first visit and start of radiotherapy | ● 22 days (range, 15.1–38.8) | ● Implement measures to reduce this time interval |
Treatment interruptions | ● 43.9% of cases (EBRT), range 2.5–90% | ● Implement measures to reduce interruptions at centres with a high percentage of treatment interruptions ● Consider working on Saturdays and holidays |
Treatment compensation rates | ● 2.1% of cases compensated (range, 0 to 100%) ● Data not registered in some cases | ● Implement measures to increase compensation rates ● Apply quality control measures to ensure registration of data in 100% of cases |
Treatment completed in prescribed time | ●55.7% of treatments completed in prescribed time ± 4 days (range, 10–97.5%) | ● Apply procedures to raise rate to 100% ● Consider working on Saturdays and holidays |
FOLLOW-UP PHASE | ||
Registration of AEs missing | ● Data missing in 11.2% of cases | ● Implement quality control measures to ensure registration of data in 100% of cases |