Identifying user assistance systems for radiotherapy to increase efficiency and help saving lives

ABSTRACT

Increasing efficiency and reducing risk in radiotherapy cancer treatment is of high importance. User assistance systems within a digitally connected radiotherapy environment can support all involved professionals to perform their individual tasks faster and better. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of radiotherapy workflows and a corresponding process modelling in order to identify hypothetical user assistance systems for specific process activities. In addition, the results of an empirical study on the identified systems are presented together with derived requirements and design principles for these systems. A structured online survey with 50 medical physicists in Germany has been conducted. Among others the acceptance, the increase of perceived efficiency and the risk reduction while using the assistance systems are analysed and discussed. The results support the creation of value adding user assistance systems for radiotherapy that improve efficiency, reduce treatment risks and reach high user acceptance levels.

KEYWORDS:

• User assistance
• cancer
• radiotherapy
• workflow
• business process modelling
• design science research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.