Health Services Research in Brachytherapy: Current Understanding and Future Challenges

Brachytherapy is an integral component of cancer care. Widespread concerns have been expressed though about the need for greater brachytherapy availability across many jurisdictions. Yet, health services research in brachytherapy has lagged behind that in external beam radiotherapy. Optimal brachytherapy utilisation, to help inform expected demand, have not been defined beyond the New South Wales region in Australia, with few studies having reported observed brachytherapy utilisation. There is also a relative lack of robust cost and cost-effectiveness studies, making investment decisions in brachytherapy even more uncertain and challenging to justify, despite its key role in cancer control. As the range of indications for brachytherapy expands, providing organ/function preservation for a wider range of diagnoses, there is an urgent need to redress this balance. By outlining the work undertaken in this area to date, we highlight its importance and explore where further study is required.& COPY; 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal College of Radiologists.

Automated summary

There is growing concern about the insufficient availability of brachytherapy in many regions, compared to external beam radiotherapy. Limited research has been conducted on the optimal utilization of brachytherapy and its cost-effectiveness, making investment decisions challenging. As the range of indications for brachytherapy expands, it is crucial to address these issues and conduct further studies in this field.