Safety Practices, Perceptions and Behaviors in Radiation Oncology: A National Survey of Radiation Therapists

Publication date: Available online 15 June 2017
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Kristina Demas Woodhouse, David Hashemi, Kathryn Betcher, Abigail Doucette, Allison Weaver, Brian Monzon, Seth A. Rosenthal, Neha Vapiwala
BackgroundRadiotherapy is complex and demands high vigilance and precise coordination. Radiation therapists (RTTs) directly deliver radiation, and are often the first to discover an error. Yet, few studies have examined the practices of RTTs regarding patient safety. We conducted a national survey to explore the perspectives of RTTs related to quality and safety.MethodsIn 2016, an electronic survey was sent to a random sample of 1500 RTTs in the United States. The survey assessed department safety, error reporting, safety knowledge, and culture. Questions were multiple-choice or recorded on a Likert scale. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsA total of 702 RTTs from 49 states (47% response rate) completed the survey. Respondents represented a broad distribution across practice settings. Most RTTs rated department patient safety as Excellent (61%) or Very Good (32%), especially if they had an Incident Learning System (ILS) (OR: 2.0). Only 21% reported using an ILS despite 58% reporting an accessible ILS in their department. RTTs felt errors were most likely to occur with longer shifts and poor multidisciplinary communication and 40% reported that burnout and anxiety negatively impacted their ability to deliver care. Workplace bullying was also reported amongst 17%. Overall, there was interest (62%) in improving knowledge in patient safety.ConclusionsAlthough most RTTs reported excellent safety cultures within their facilities; overall, there was limited access to and utilization of ILSs by RTTs. Workplace issues identified may also represent barriers to delivering quality care. RTTs were also interested in additional resources regarding quality and safety. These results will further enhance safety initiatives, and inform future innovative educational efforts in radiation oncology.



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