Design of a safe computer-supported cooperative environment in radiotherapy

Abstract

Motivation -This research deals with the identification of collective production of a safe radiotherapy treatment and its potential assistance through computer-supported environments. It takes place at the beginning of a four years design project involving software companies and and scientific and clinical institutions. Research approach -This work presents an exploratory analysis of cooperation between the four professionals involved in the production of radiotherapy treatment. Our general research objective is to investigate how to support managed safety in the design of a computer-supported cooperative environment. Uses and functions of cooperative tools have been outlined through observations and the "think aloud" technique. Findings/Design -We identify three types of cooperation tools (computer-based tools, including an existing workflow, unformal verbal exchanges, and the patient body) involved in the production of a safe treatment. Their main functions are: to produce shareable data between professionals, to share the progress in the construction of a treatment and to share procedures and work practices. Research limitations/Implications -This paper aims at contributing to the articulation of two research approaches: CSCW and safety in healthcare. Originality/Value -Our study reveals informal strategies that participate to a "managed" healthcare safety performed by professionals. Take away message -Our work may contribute to transform the initial technocentric approach of the design project into a more anthropocentric design project and flexible CSCW tool.

Designing the safety of healthcare. Participation of ergonomics to the design of cooperative systems in radiotherapy

“…For example, between the simulation step and the treatment step, non-ruled communications in addition to prescribed information in the patient paper file, let to define unusual position of the patient on the treatment table [13]. Non prescribed exchanges have also been observed in order to mobilize the actors of the chain to avoid delays in the treatment of a patient file [13] [14].…”

“…Such a perspective is limited to the prescribed model of the treatment chain. The workflow software is no more just a software that automates the exchanges of data but it must support the update of the collective contextual information that helps operators to produce safety copping with daily variability [12] [14].…”

“…strategies adopted by operators to maintain a safe production by an informal kind of safety management [14]. This non ruled safety allows the operators to anticipate error situations [1].…”