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Design and evaluation of a safety-centered user interface for radiation therapy
Ashleigh P Shier1, Plinio P Morita2, Colleen Dickie3
1Healthcare Human Factors, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Practical Radiation Oncology
|June 25, 2018
Summary
A redesigned radiation therapy interface improved error detection and situation awareness for radiation therapists. This human factors engineering approach enhances patient safety by reducing use errors in complex treatment delivery.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Human Factors Engineering
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Increasing complexity in radiation therapy treatment delivery heightens risks of adverse events and patient safety issues due to use errors.
- User interfaces in radiation therapy monitoring and treatment delivery are critical for safe and effective patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To redesign and evaluate a radiation therapy treatment delivery user interface using ecological interface design (EID) to enhance patient safety.
- To determine if the redesigned interface improves the detection of treatment errors by radiation therapists.
Main Methods:
- An initial interface design concept was developed based on prior analysis.
- Focus groups with radiation therapists informed the initial design.
- A usability test was conducted with 16 newly graduated radiation therapists comparing the redesigned system with the current system.
Main Results:
- The redesigned system significantly improved the detection rate for errors related to wrong treatment volume (P < .03) and wrong treatment site (P < .01).
- Participants demonstrated improved level 2 and level 3 situation awareness (P < .01 for both), indicating better comprehension and predictive understanding of the system.
- User satisfaction was higher with the redesigned interface.
Conclusions:
- Ecological interface design is an effective method for redesigning radiation therapy treatment delivery interfaces.
- The redesigned interface enhanced radiation therapists' system understanding and their ability to detect critical errors, thereby improving patient safety.
- Radiation therapists preferred the redesigned interface, reporting higher error detection rates and improved situation awareness during simulated treatments.
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