Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA Study
PURPOSEThe workflow of brachytherapy (BT) is an essential aspect of treatment to consider in image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT). It has an overarching effect influencing patient throughput and the number of cancer treatments that can be performed as it occupies equipment, space, and personnel. There...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society of Clinical Oncology
2024-02-01
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| Series: | JCO Global Oncology |
| Online Access: | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.23.00336 |
| _version_ | 1797299892857602048 |
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| author | Sandra Ndarukwa Jerickson Abbie Flores Eduardo Rosenblatt Daniel Berger Kamal Akbarov Natasha Hedden Supriya Chopra Varsha Hande Alfredo Polo Rubio |
| author_facet | Sandra Ndarukwa Jerickson Abbie Flores Eduardo Rosenblatt Daniel Berger Kamal Akbarov Natasha Hedden Supriya Chopra Varsha Hande Alfredo Polo Rubio |
| author_sort | Sandra Ndarukwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PURPOSEThe workflow of brachytherapy (BT) is an essential aspect of treatment to consider in image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT). It has an overarching effect influencing patient throughput and the number of cancer treatments that can be performed as it occupies equipment, space, and personnel. There is limited research addressing this issue. Under the International Atomic Energy Agency's Coordinated Research Activity titled IGBT for cervix cancer: An implementation study, our study analyzes various scenarios in the clinical workflow of BT delivery for cervical cancer. It aims to determine the extent to which these scenarios allow the routine implementation of IGBT. With this information, current barriers and individualized adaptations to efficient workflows can be identified to enhance the global application of IGBT, leading to better cervical cancer treatment.MATERIALS AND METHODSA web-based poll of questions regarding practices in BT workflow was presented to 62 participants from low-, lower middle-, upper middle-, and high-income countries (19 countries).RESULTSThis study highlighted diversity in BT practices across countries, income levels, and regions. It identified variations in workflow, patient throughput, and resource availability, which can have implications for the efficiency and quality of BT treatments. Scenario A, utilizing multiple locations for the steps of the BT procedure, was the most commonly used. The availability of resources, such as imaging devices and trained personnel, varied among the participating centers and remained challenging for IGBT implementation and sustainability.CONCLUSIONThe design of the BT facility plays a vital role in improving efficiency, with a dedicated BT suite contributing to an efficient workflow but limiting patient throughput, especially for high-volume centers. Although IGBT is effective, its implementation requires consideration of various logistical challenges and should be individualized. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:58:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6940cdbd26d24f178c8d827afd72f363 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2687-8941 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:58:16Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JCO Global Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6940cdbd26d24f178c8d827afd72f3632024-02-22T20:59:36ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJCO Global Oncology2687-89412024-02-011010.1200/GO.23.00336Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA StudySandra Ndarukwa0Jerickson Abbie Flores1Eduardo Rosenblatt2Daniel Berger3Kamal Akbarov4Natasha Hedden5Supriya Chopra6Varsha Hande7Alfredo Polo Rubio8Applied Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, AustriaApplied Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, AustriaApplied Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, AustriaSection of Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, AustriaApplied Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, AustriaApplied Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, AustriaAdvanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, IndiaAdvanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, IndiaCity Cancer Challenge, Technical Cooperation and Capacity Development, Geneva, SwitzerlandPURPOSEThe workflow of brachytherapy (BT) is an essential aspect of treatment to consider in image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT). It has an overarching effect influencing patient throughput and the number of cancer treatments that can be performed as it occupies equipment, space, and personnel. There is limited research addressing this issue. Under the International Atomic Energy Agency's Coordinated Research Activity titled IGBT for cervix cancer: An implementation study, our study analyzes various scenarios in the clinical workflow of BT delivery for cervical cancer. It aims to determine the extent to which these scenarios allow the routine implementation of IGBT. With this information, current barriers and individualized adaptations to efficient workflows can be identified to enhance the global application of IGBT, leading to better cervical cancer treatment.MATERIALS AND METHODSA web-based poll of questions regarding practices in BT workflow was presented to 62 participants from low-, lower middle-, upper middle-, and high-income countries (19 countries).RESULTSThis study highlighted diversity in BT practices across countries, income levels, and regions. It identified variations in workflow, patient throughput, and resource availability, which can have implications for the efficiency and quality of BT treatments. Scenario A, utilizing multiple locations for the steps of the BT procedure, was the most commonly used. The availability of resources, such as imaging devices and trained personnel, varied among the participating centers and remained challenging for IGBT implementation and sustainability.CONCLUSIONThe design of the BT facility plays a vital role in improving efficiency, with a dedicated BT suite contributing to an efficient workflow but limiting patient throughput, especially for high-volume centers. Although IGBT is effective, its implementation requires consideration of various logistical challenges and should be individualized.https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.23.00336 |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Ndarukwa Jerickson Abbie Flores Eduardo Rosenblatt Daniel Berger Kamal Akbarov Natasha Hedden Supriya Chopra Varsha Hande Alfredo Polo Rubio Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA Study JCO Global Oncology |
| title | Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA Study |
| title_full | Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA Study |
| title_fullStr | Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA Study |
| title_short | Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA Study |
| title_sort | brachytherapy workflow practices analysis of different workflow scenarios in patients with cervical cancer and impact on igbt implementation an iaea study |
| url | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.23.00336 |
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