Risk management of radioiodine treatment in differentiated thyroid cancer

Patient safety is paramount in providing quality healthcare and constitutes a global concern for healthcare systems. Radioiodine treatment to patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer is not without risks. The aim of this study is to identify, evaluate and mitigate the risks associated with this procedure.

A single-centre descriptive study was conducted in which risk management was carried out by establishing a risk map using FMEA methodology.

Based on the process map 6 sub-processes and 23 failure modes in the three phases of the treatment process were analysed. According to risk priority number (RPN), the sub-process with the highest risk was administrative management (RPN 82), followed by treatment per se and post-treatment imaging (both with RPN 70). An overall process RPN of 300 (156 pre-treatment, 74 treatment and 70 post-treatment) was obtained. Failures directly related to the patient pose a high risk. The implementation of verification systems, performing tasks earlier and providing quality medical information are the most relevant preventive measures to be implemented.

The application of the FMEA methodology in the risk management for radioiodine treatment is a valuable tool for improving the quality and safety of this process. The risk map has been able to identify failures at different stages, assess their causes and effects, prioritise the risks identified and implement preventive and corrective measures that can be monitored, ensuring the effectiveness of the actions taken.