title: Evaluation of patients' engagement in radiation therapy safety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment safety has become a priority in health policies after several incidents occurred around the world in radiation oncology departments. The aim of this study was to analyse the patients' contribution in that field and to understand which actions empower the patient in that regard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several methods were used in a general hospital and in a comprehensive cancer centre to analyse the activities of the radiation therapists and the patients and the interactions between them: treatment session observations, semidirective interviews with radiation therapists and patients, self and alloconfrontation with radiation therapists and explanatory interviews with patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cooperation of the patients in treatment safety acts as an additional step that contributes to safer treatments. Radiation therapy sessions are a creative opportunity for the patient to observe, learn and analyse what is happening. Changes between treatment sessions are a source of anxiety for the patients. This study highlights the factors that favour the patients' participation. A trusting relationship and support from the health professionals can be leveraged in that manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a common will shared between the patients and the health professionals towards better treatment safety. The cooperation is still not well-known and underused. This empowerment of the patient cannot be mandatory but should be promoted and developed.
authors.affiliation: UMR 5044, centre d'étude et de recherche travail, organisation, pouvoir (Certop), CNRS, maison de la recherche MSH, 5, allées Antonio-Machado, 31058 Toulouse, France; EA 4132, laboratoire d'ergonomie, centre de recherche sur le travail et le développement (CRTD), 41, rue Gay-Lussac, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: apernet@univ.tlse2.fr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pernet
authors.affiliation: UMR 5044, centre d'étude et de recherche travail, organisation, pouvoir (Certop), CNRS, maison de la recherche MSH, 5, allées Antonio-Machado, 31058 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mollo
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 12, rue de l'École-de-médecine, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: J-E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bibault
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 12, rue de l'École-de-médecine, 75006 Paris, France; Service d'oncologie radiothérapie, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giraud
mesh_terms: D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010358:Patient Participation; D061214:Patient Safety; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Participation des patients; Patient empowerment; Patient-actor; Radiation therapy; Radiothérapie; Sécurité des soins; Treatment safety