Improving the Timely Reporting of Critical Radiological Results in Oncology to Enhance Patient Safety (A Quality Improvement Initiative at SQCCCRC).

BACKGROUND

Effective communication of critical radiological results is vital in oncology for timely interventions and preventing delays in patient care. Barriers such as radiologist workload, manual communication processes, and inconsistent protocols impede the timely reporting of critical findings.

AIM

This study aims to the Timely Reporting of Critical Radiological Results in Oncology to improve patient safety.

METHODS

A pre-and-post design approach was used to assess key performance indicators before and after interventions. The study was conducted in in the radiology department of Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Center (SQCCCRC), University Medical city, Muscat, Oman. The FOCUS-PDCA framework guided the quality improvement process, addressing system inefficiencies, inconsistent communication, and non-standardized reporting. The intervention team included radiologists, oncologists, administrative staff, and IT personnel. Key issues identified were system downtimes, training gaps, inconsistent escalation practices, and lack of standardized protocols. Interventions targeted system modifications, staff education, and policy updates. Monthly compliance rates were tracked from June 2023 to May 2024, with audits assessing adherence to reporting protocols. Key performance indicators included reporting timeliness, documentation accuracy, and adherence to new protocols.

RESULTS

Post-intervention, compliance with critical radiology result reporting improved significantly, reaching 100%. Compliance initially fluctuated but rebounded after system modifications and staff training. Cochran's Q test showed a Q statistic of 7.6 with a p-value of 0.022, indicating a significant difference in compliance over the 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Multidisciplinary collaboration, technology integration, and standardized protocols are crucial to improving critical result reporting and enhancing patient outcomes in Oncology settings.