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ArticleStrahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al]2026

Current practices in peer review in German radiation oncology: a nationwide survey.

Andrea Baehr, Maja Guberina, Philipp Ernst, Kilian Koch, Marion Juretko, Ursula Nestle, Maximilian Grohmann, DEGRO Working Group for Patient Safety

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Strahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al], 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Andrea BaehrDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. a.baehr@uke.de.ORCID 0000-0003-0301-7249
Maja GuberinaDepartment of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Philipp ErnstDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Kliniken Maria Hilf GmbH, Moenchengladbach, Germany.
Kilian KochDepartment of Radiation Oncology, MVZ Klinikum Straubing GmbH, Straubing, Germany.
Marion JuretkoDepartment of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
Ursula NestleDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Kliniken Maria Hilf GmbH, Moenchengladbach, Germany.
Maximilian GrohmannDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
DEGRO Working Group for Patient Safety

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundClinical peer review (PR) is a structured process in which medical professionals evaluate the quality of their colleagues' work to ensure compliance with healthcare standards. In radiation oncology (RO), intra-institutional PR has become established as a key quality assurance (QA) measure to improve treatment safety and effectiveness. While various guidelines and recommendations exist internationally, no uniform PR framework for radiation treatment decision-making and planning has been defined in Germany.

objectiveThis study aims to provide an overview of current PR practices in German RO departments, assess the degree of implementation of recommended PR measures, and identify areas for improvement.

methodsA digital survey among RO specialists was conducted from January 7 to February 7, 2025. The survey included structured questions on PR implementation, participation of different professional groups, timing, documentation, and technological infrastructure. Free-text fields allowed for additional insights. The collected data were analyzed descriptively.

resultsA total of 51 complete questionnaires-mainly from academic centers-were evaluated. Here, PR was widely implemented, particularly involving physicians and medical physicists, with 86% of departments performing case discussions and 82% PR of plans before the first radiation session. Most participants reported that PR effectively supports treatment planning and safety. However, PR for target delineation and image fusion was only implemented in 41% of cases. The inclusion of RTTs, nurses, and radiologists was rare. Documentation of PR processes, particularly attendance tracking and implementation of recommended changes, was inconsistent. Time constraints, personnel shortages, and high patient volume were the most frequently reported barriers to continuous PR.

conclusionWhile PR seems to be an integral part of radiation therapy in Germany, its structure and implementation throughout centers need to be elucidated. While some aspects, such as pre-therapeutic PR, are well established in our cohort, gaps remain in the integration of multidisciplinary teams, structured documentation, and contouring reviews. Further discussions within the German RO community and the development of national recommendations could help to standardize PR processes and improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

Indexed as

Peer ReviewPeer Review, Health CareQuality Assurance, Health CareRadiation OncologyGermanyHumansSurveys and QuestionnairesEducationPatient safetyQuality assuranceRadiation oncologyRadiation planning

Identifiers

PMID40705058
PMCPMC13109161

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.