Patient safety in radiotherapy : human factors and error prevention systems

Žarkovič, Lara (avtor), Zupan, Iza (avtor), Hankić, Larisa (avtor), Žager Marciuš, Valerija (avtor), Gošnak Dahmane, Raja (avtor)

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of modern cancer treatment, offering high precision in tumor targeting while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Due to the use of high-energy ionizing radiation and highly complex planning and delivery workflows, patient safety represents a critical aspect of radiotherapy practice. This review provides an overview of patient safety in radiotherapy with a particular focus on human factors, sources of error, and system-based error prevention strategies. A narrative literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles, international guidelines, and reports on incident learning systems and quality assurance in external beam radiotherapy. The radiotherapy process consists of multiple interdependent stages, including simulation, target delineation, treatment planning, verification, and treatment delivery, each of which carries specific safety risks. Evidence shows that most radiotherapy incidents arise from human and organizational factors such as communication failures, workload, inadequate supervision, and system design issues rather than isolated technical faults. Quality assurance programs, incident reporting systems, patient safety indicators, and international frameworks such as Safety in Radiation Oncology (SAFRON) represent key mechanisms for preventing errors. The integration of technical quality assurance with a strong safety culture and attention to human factors is essential for reducing risk and improving patient outcomes. A system-based approach that emphasizes learning, supervision, and continuous improvement is crucial for maintaining safe radiotherapy practice as treatment technologies continue to evolve.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: radiotherapy, patient safety, human factors, quality assurance, incident learning systems, safety culture
• Vrsta gradiva: Znanstveno delo
• Tipologija: 1.08 - Objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci
• Organizacija: ZF - Zdravstvena fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: Str. 25-31
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185697
• UDK: 616-07
• DOI: 10.55295/PSL.14.2026.I4
• COBISS.SI-ID: 288051459
• Datum objave v RUL: 18.08.2026

Gradivo je del monografije

• Naslov: Proceedings of Socratic Lectures : 14th international symposium, Ljubljana, April 17, 2026, Breast cancer
• Uredniki: Veronika Kralj-Iglič, Yelena Istileulova, Anna Romolo
• Kraj izida: Ljubljana
• Založnik: University of Ljubljana Press
• Leto izida: 2026
• ISBN: 978-961-297-859-4
• COBISS.SI-ID: 283502339

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.