A survey of compliance with stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy quality recommendations

Many publications have proposed quality standards for stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR). However, data on the level of compliance with these guidelines is lacking in the literature. This study aimed to understand how these guidelines are applied in the clinic and to identify barriers to implementing such recommendations.

Interviews were conducted with multidisciplinary staff at radiation oncology centres across New South Wales formulated around the RANZCR Guidelines for Safe Practice of Stereotactic Body (Ablative) Radiation Therapy. The interview responses were grouped into 20 topics, assessed against the guidelines and thematically analysed.

Good compliance with the guidelines was found, with more than 80% of centres achieving satisfactory results in more than half the topics. The areas with the lowest compliance were auditing, risk assessment and reporting recommendations. Barriers to the quality of SABR treatments included limited training opportunities, low patient numbers and a lack of clear requirements on comprehensive auditing and reporting.

Overall, the centres surveyed reported good compliance with most of the RANZCR SABR guidelines. The tasks with the lowest compliance were those that monitor quality outcomes. Potential strategies for improvement include inclusion in clinical trials and the use of databases which link treatment parameters, dosimetry and outcomes. Further work will focus on the barriers identified in this survey and propose practical solutions to improve compliance in these areas.