Michelle Rocque

Article Comparison: Trade Publication Article vs. Peer Reviewed Article

Part 1: Trade Publication Article
Trade publications contain articles that are written for a broad audience. These articles
feature writing that is informal and journalistic written by paid or contracted staff.1 They include
information related to products and services and rely on advertisements for revenue. I will
review the article titled Successful Dose of Monitoring written by Timothy Gustafson and
featured in Radiology Today magazine. I will provide a summary of its usefulness in radiation
oncology and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the article.
This article discussed the importance of making radiation dose reduction a priority in the
healthcare system. The author, Mr. Gustafson, discussed ways in which dose reduction has been
made possible in one radiology department in California. These included staff education,
creating imaging standards, and making protocol changes. Education was a priority. Because of
technology, basic skills were being lost and needed to be relearned and not left to the automatic
adjustment of the computer to decide. Creating imaging standards for the department brought
together many team members who improved and developed protocols that were customized for
each imaging device.2 This assisted in developing acceptable dose ranges for pediatric cases. By
fully educating the staff, they became comfortable suggesting substitutes for procedures, when
necessary, to physicians in order to lower the radiation dose to the patient. The author briefly
discussed the importance of educating the patient. This led to more cooperation as well as higher
patient satisfaction.
Although this article directly referenced a radiology department, the concepts of dose
reduction should also be followed in every radiation oncology department. In many
departments, medical dosimetrists are involved in the simulation process. Using proper
techniques and using collimation (conventional simulation) is necessary to reduce the dose to the
patient. Image Gently Image Wisely is a campaign that addresses the concerns from increasing
radiation exposure from medical imaging. In radiation oncology, it is sometimes difficult to
decrease exposures when the exams will be used for treatment planning. The most important

point is to ensure all information is included in the initial scan so that the scan will not have to be
repeated.
There were positive points in this article. The author outlined the strategies that the
department created to improve the radiation dose reduction to the patient population. This article
was published in Radiology Today, whose main reader could find great value in the concepts that
were discussed. There was a degree of technical terminology used in reference to radiology
exams and procedures which validated the credibility of the author. His writing was clear and
offered the reader some statistical improvement after changes were put in place.
I searched for weaknesses in the article. Trade publication articles may advocate
products or ideas. The only small piece of product placement I found was in the form of a digital
imaging system used in the department. Throughout the article there was not any other mention
of specific product or trademark names. There was an undeniable tone that the author made
clear. It was patient safety and also patient satisfaction. I would recommend this article for its
usefulness related to radiation safety.

1. Lenards N, Weege M. Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Reading. [Powerpoint].

LaCrosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry Program; 2015.
2. Gustafson TM. (2013 November). Successful dose of monitoring. Radiology Today.
(14)11:16. Retrieved from http://www.radiologytoday.net/archive/rt1113p16.shtml.

Part 2: Professional Peer Reviewed Research Article

The professional journal has a much narrower audience than the previously discussed
trade publication. Its topics are specific to particular specialized fields and include academic and
scientific research.1 The authors of these articles are professionals in the fields that they are

researching. Journal articles are written in a formal manner. They seek to debate professional
issues as well as investigate theories. Peer reviewed articles hold a higher acclaim for
publications. These articles have been approved by experts in the field before they are allowed
to be published. I chose to analyze an article from the Radiation Therapist Journal entitled
Characterizing a Culture of Training and Safety: A Qualitative Case Study in Radiation
Oncology by Lozano RG. I will review and present information summarizing the publication.
The background for this research was based on the safety failures that have been reported
in literature about radiation oncology incidents.2 Miscommunication or lack of communication
has been found to play a large role in creating environments where errors or near misses are not
recognized and/or reported. This article followed one organization which worked across seven
treatment facilities. The purpose of the study was to investigate patterns of communication and
reveal characteristics that could be utilized to reinforce a safe culture in an organization.2 This
was a qualitative study. A small group of individuals were interviewed in depth. A strict
criterion was set for participation which narrowed the group but made the sample purposeful.
The author described in detail the participants involved and included the topics that were
addressed in the study. The credibility of the studys findings was verified. This was completed
by the studys participants reviewing the written material for accuracy.
The results of this study were extremely comprehensive. Each result as it contributed to
the culture of safety was listed and discussed separately. Infrastructure was discussed as the first
contributing factor to safety. This study focused on seven facilities under one organization.
Because communication between the facilities was critical to safety, each facility was setup with
the same hardware and networks. This enabled all employees to work seamlessly between
centers. Share drives were utilized which enhanced continued learning for employees. Any
updated procedure or policy could be accessed from the share drive and communicated easily to
the staff. Open communication contributed to the culture of safety. One example given
pertained to the radiation therapists. New therapists are provided direct and honest feedback as
part of the training process. On the other hand, these therapists are encouraged to ask questions
and learn about all aspects of the department, from the front desk to the physics area. Staff
interactions were welcomed and encouraged as a learning experience. Asking questions and
taking ownership were two listed expectations of all staff members. This organization felt that
consistently rotating schedules between facilities fostered heightened awareness and safety,

keeping the staff interested and mentally motivated. This allowed them to utilize skills and
provide additional learning opportunities within the organization.
The researcher set out to find characteristics that contribute to a culture of safety in
the environment of radiation oncology. These were shown, but potential limitations were
observed and included in the article also. The first limitation was specified as the small data set.
The second drawback was the limited amount of time spent in the field. I agree that both of
these are limitations and slightly hinder the findings. I use slightly because this organization can
serve as a model because of its size for other oncology departments that need improvement in
communication. This organization has made communication a priority over the span of seven
facilities. Many departments (which may be self contained) can take away some key component
from this article and utilize parts to enhance communication which will improve patient safety.
Patient safety is the most critical part of our job as medical professionals. Maintaining
open communication among the oncology team is essential, and I believe this article provided
strategies that can be used in any department. Again, this was a qualitative research article. The
emphasis was not how much data was presented, but on the quality and depth of the data. Thick
description writing was used by the researcher which gave the reader a deeper understanding into
the feelings, actions, and meanings of the participants. The article contained a wide range of
sources that were current and relevant to the subject. Although I enjoyed the article, I probably
would not refer back to the information for future reference primarily because of the size of the
group analyzed. Another issue I found was that medical dosimetrists were not represented
because none were employed by the organization at the time. Lack of communication and
continuing education are large problems in many departments that lead to safety issues. I would
be very interested to read about strategies that have been implemented across multiple
organizations with the advancements in radiation oncology.

References
1. Lenards N, Weege M. Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Reading. [Powerpoint].
LaCrosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry Program; 2015.
2. Lozano RG. Characterizing a culture of training and safety: a qualitative case study in
radiation oncology. Radiation Therapist. 2013;(2):139-153.