radiation therapist

AIM/OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND: This practice parameter was revised collaboratively by the American College of Radiology (ACR), and the American Radium Society. This practice parameter provides updated reference literature regarding radiation oncology practice and its key personnel. METHODS: This practice parameter was developed according to the process described under the heading The Process for Developing ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards on the ACR website (https://www...

The roles and responsibilities of radiation therapists (RTTs) are many and varied. Professional expectations are influenced by the technology available, as well as the level of autonomy RTTs have in their daily practice. This professional range requires RTTs to possess a unique set of ever evolving skills, posing challenges from an educational perspective. Teaching these "advanced skills" has been the ambition the ESTRO Advanced Skills in Modern Radiotherapy course. In the 10th year of this course, the Faculty look back and reflect on how our programme has evolved and what it has achieved...

BACKGROUND: With the shift towards person-centered care (PCC) in oncology, there is a need for parallel evolution of oncology education programs to prepare the next generation of health professionals to deliver effective PCC. These programs should be designed utilizing perspectives from individuals who have lived experience with cancer to ensure that changes to education curricula translate to improved PCC in the clinic. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to identify existing literature describing such programs as well as identify gaps for further development...

To determine the necessity of the first week CT simulation rescan of pencil beam scanning (PBS) prostate patients requiring treatment to the pelvic lymph nodes. Patients were treated on a prospective registry trial sponsored by the Proton Collaborative Group (PCG-NCT01255748). A total of 42 patients with high-risk prostate cancer requiring treatment to the pelvic lymph nodes were evaluated in a single calendar year. The cohort consisted of a mix of intact prostate and postprostatectomy patients. Most of the patients were treated with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) approach for the majority of the plan...

Objective: To determine if student radiographers and radiation therapists experience harassment (verbal, physical or sexual) while on clinical placement and their awareness of policies in place to report such incidents. Methods: An online questionnaire developed from the World Health Organisation's questionnaire on workplace violence in healthcare and the higher education authority (HEA) national survey of student experiences of sexual violence and harassment in Irish HEIs was used. Undergraduate and postgraduate diagnostic radiography and radiation therapy students in the Republic of Ireland to be included and have completed a minimum of four weeks of clinical placement...

•Multi-modal prehabilitation prior to radiotherapy is valuable and achievable.•Radiation Therapists can be instrumental in developing prehab programs.•Multi-disciplinary care influences the patient's experience of cancer.•Validated screening tools can be easily incorporated into pre-radiotherapy assessments.•Online delivery of a prehabilitation program is feasible and safe.

PURPOSE: To examine the risk factors for arm morbidity following breast cancer treatments, taking a broad view of all types of physical morbidity, including prolonged pain, lymphedema, decreased range of motion, and functional limitations. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines. Studies exploring the risk factors for prolonged arm morbidity following breast cancer surgery and treatments were included...

INTRODUCTION: Randomized clinical trials support Mepitel Film (MF) as a prophylactic treatment for radiation dermatitis (RD) in patients undergoing breast radiotherapy. Although several studies have canvassed the opinion of patients on using MF, no such studies have been done to investigate the perception of healthcare professionals (HCPs). The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the perceptions of HCPs on MF as a treatment option for RD. METHODS: Anonymized responses to a web-based survey sent to HCPs at a single institution managing patients using MF during breast radiotherapy were analyzed...

BACKGROUND: Triage nurses play a crucial role in addressing patient telephone calls. However, topics that radiation oncology (RO) triage nurses encounter have not been thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVES: This project established baseline patient issues addressed via telephone by RO triage nurses in a clinically busy academic RO department; identified themes and potential areas for workflow improvement; and evaluated interprofessional perceptions of RO triage from nurses, physicians, and radiation therapists...

Caring for cancer patients is generally considered very rewarding work, but it can also be stressful and demanding. Therefore, it is important for oncology healthcare professionals to feel satisfied with their work environment in order to provide the best care possible. An ethics-approved 61-item staff satisfaction survey was developed in-house to gain insights regarding workplace satisfaction among all staff at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Center. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the responses. A total of 478 individuals completed the online survey, with 75...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: To meet the demand for cervical cancer care in Africa, access to surgical and radiotherapy services need to be understood. We thus mapped the availability of gynecologic and radiotherapy equipment and staffing for treating cervical cancer. MATERIALS/METHODS: We collected data on gynecologic and radiation oncology staffing, equipment, and infrastructure capacities across Africa. Data was obtained from February to July 2021 through collaboration with international partners using REDCap...

PURPOSE: As part of the multidisciplinary team, radiation therapists are in charge of elements of treatment preparation and delivery of radiotherapy to cancer patients. Helping scientific and technological improvements, more and more patients with cancer were treated with radiotherapy including hypofractionnated radiotherapy, that explain the increase of demands on services. The professional impacted by this increase of demands are radiation oncologists and medical physicists. The opportunity to push forward the radiation therapist's competencies appears with the possibility to shift them some tasks...

INTRODUCTION: 3D Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) using Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT) has been implemented for a range of treatment sites across the UK in the last decade. A paucity of evidence exists to understand how radiation therapists (RTTs) make clinical decisions during image interpretation as part of the IGRT process. The aim of this study was to investigate the decision-making processes used by RTTs during image interpretation of IGRT. METHOD: Case study methodology was adopted utilising a think aloud observational method with follow-up interviews...

PURPOSE: To understand the experiences, opinions and information needs of Canadian Radiation Therapists when caring for cancer patients who are taking cannabis for therapeutic purposes (CTP). METHODS: The study employed prospective data collection, via a single cross-sectional web-based questionnaire. After REB approval, the questionnaire was distributed electronically to all Radiation Therapists across Canada. The questionnaire was open for a one month accrual, with reminders sent at two and four weeks...

BACKGROUND: Shame is a powerful negative emotion that has the potential to affect health. Due to the intimate nature of breast cancer treatment and its impact on body image, it is hypothesised that shame may be experienced during treatment. The aim of this study was to explore shame experiences related to clinical encounters for breast cancer treatment. METHODS: People with a lived experience of breast cancer were invited to anonymously share their stories of shame through an online survey...

Simulators have revolutionized medical education and training across various disciplines, offering unique advantages in skill acquisition and performance improvement. In the context of interventional radiation therapy (IRT), simulators have emerged as valuable tools for training healthcare professionals in these complex procedures. This narrative review summarized the available evidence on the use of simulators in IRT training, highlighting their impact on proficiency, engagement, and self-confidence as well as their benefits for medical physicists and radiation therapists...

Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) is already possible for many radiation therapy planning and treatment processes with the aim of improving workflows and increasing efficiency in radiation oncology departments. Currently, AI technology is advancing at an exponential rate, as are its applications in radiation oncology. This commentary highlights the way AI has begun to impact radiation therapy treatment planning and looks ahead to potential future developments in this space. Historically, radiation therapist's (RT's) role has evolved alongside the adoption of new technology...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): The workflow in Radiotherapy (RT) has largely unchanged for the past three decades, despite increasing evidence suggesting that delayed access to RT, including the wait time between consultation, simulation, and treatment appointments, can negatively impact clinical outcomes. In this pilot study, we present preliminary results of an in silico study that demonstrate the feasibility of a novel RT platform, which integrates simulation into the treatment process and enables patients to receive immediate RT after their initial RT consultation...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): Respiratory movement strongly affects the accuracy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of liver malignancies treated without the use of a respiratory gating system. This study investigates the feasibility and advantages of using a respiratory navigator-guided combined with patient breath-hold for liver SBRT in an adaptive magnetic-resonance guided workflow. MATERIALS/METHODS: Clinical datasets of 10 liver cancer patients treated with 1...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): CBCT-based online adaptive radiotherapy (OART) is an emerging treatment strategy to replan based on the anatomy of the day while the patient remains on the couch. OART is not just an add-on to the current workflow; it necessitates a new approach across the patient's path of care, from CT simulation to treatment delivery. OART requires the addition of duties to clinical personnel, strategies to create auto-plan templates, and monitoring the "black box" adaptation process...