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Published on: October 6, 2023
Implementation and evaluation of a structured radiotherapy interruption-management protocol with saturday treatment
Clara Andrea Navarro Ibarra1, Francisco Clemente Gutiérrez1, Miguel Ángel Díez Gallego1
1Department of Medical Physics, Avenida del Río Guadiana, 45007 Toledo, Spain.
Summary
A new protocol reduced radiotherapy treatment time prolongation by integrating automated alerts, multidisciplinary reviews, and Saturday treatments. This approach improved patient care and operational efficiency in centers with non-interchangeable linear accelerators.
Area of Science:
- Radiation Oncology
- Medical Physics
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Unplanned radiotherapy interruptions can negatively impact tumor control due to cellular proliferation.
- Managing treatment delays is challenging in centers with non-interchangeable linear accelerators.
- A structured protocol was developed to mitigate the effects of treatment interruptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To implement and evaluate a protocol for managing radiotherapy interruptions.
- To assess the impact of the protocol on overall treatment time (OTT) prolongation.
- To determine the effectiveness of a dedicated Saturday treatment slot for compensation.
Main Methods:
- A tertiary center with two non-identical linear accelerators was used.
- Overall treatment time (OTT) prolongation was analyzed pre- and post-protocol implementation (February-November 2025).
- Patients were categorized (CAT 1-3) based on international guidance, with outcomes including clinically relevant OTT prolongation and RCR compliance.
Main Results:
- Clinically significant OTT prolongation decreased substantially across all treatment categories post-implementation.
- Saturday compensation was utilized for 56.4% of patients, with most requiring only one additional fraction.
- RCR compliance improved significantly, demonstrating better adherence to standards.
Conclusions:
- The structured protocol effectively reduced clinically relevant OTT prolongation.
- Automated alerts, multidisciplinary team (MDT) triage, and Saturday treatment slots are key components of success.
- Saturday compensation is an efficient strategy for managing interruptions, especially in resource-limited settings.
