Development and Assessment of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Enhanced Pretreatment Peer-review Process to Improve Patient Safety in Radiation Oncology
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Summary
This prospective study will test artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) decision support tools. This tool is designed to help doctors, physicists and other staff during pre-treatment peer review, a step where treatment plans are checked before a patient begins care. The system highlights summaries showing how different providers may vary in their treatment planning (provider-variability summaries) and points out the best signals or warning signs to look for (optimal cues). By drawing attention to these patterns and cues, the tool aims to help reviewers spot possible treatment-planning mistakes earlier, reduce the chance of errors, and improve overall patient safety.
Description
As radiation therapy (RT) becomes more complex, the number of possible error pathways increases. AI-supported peer review can help catch errors that might otherwise go unnoticed and promote consistent, equitable safety standards across both rural and urban clinics. Radiation therapy (RT) is used in about 50% of cancer patients and usually given in outpatient clinics. Newer technologies such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), and Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), improve treatment by better protecting normal tissue and higher dose in…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
In order to participate in this study a subject must meet all of the eligibility criteria outlined below. Inclusion Criteria: Providers only * ≥18 years * Peer-review attendees at participating clinics Patients only * ≥18 years * All patients with prostate cancer radiation therapy cases treated at participating sites (no intervention delivered to patients) Exclusion Criteria: Providers only • Providers unwilling/unable to comply with study procedures; sites unable to implement the workflow or provide required outcomes. Patients and Providers • Has dementia, altered mental status, or…
Interventions
- DeviceThe Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ Machine Learning (ML) contribution to treatment planning
All treatment planning and clinical monitoring are conducted in accordance with institutional standards and established departmental policies. Peer review activities proceed as they would in routine clinical practice, with the addition of optional Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated analytics available for clinician review. AI / Machine Learning (ML) system is embedded in scheduled departmental peer review meetings and presents analytic summaries and visualizations through a dashboard that is integrated into the existing clinical workflow. The system functions solely as a decision support aid and does not perform or initiate any autonomous treatment planning actions, dose delivery changes, or clinical interventions. During simulation (SIM) review, physician generated target and organ at risk contours are reviewed first, consistent with standard practice. Only after this initial review may the treating physician optionally access the AI generated contours for comparative purposes.
Location
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Radiation OncologyChapel Hill, North Carolina