ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S2661

Interdisciplinary - Education in radiation therapy

ESTRO 2024

This study aimed to examine the education and training needs of health care practitioners (HCPs) including pulmonologists, and oncologists in the Philippines who encounter lung oligometastatic cancer patients.

Material/Methods:

A modified version of the Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Assessment Questionnaire was administered online to HCPs working in private and public centers in the Philippines. Participants were asked to rate 33 tasks on how well they perform the task and the importance of the task to their role. HCPs were recruited via purposive sampling through various outreach activities.

Results:

Fifty-seven HCPs received the invitation to participate in the study and 27 completed the questionnaire (47% response rate). Respondents were mostly female (59%), between the ages of 30 and 39 years (70%). Three quarters (74%) were consultants and most respondents were Radiation Oncologists (44%) or Medical Oncologists (30%). Radiation Oncologists rated Clinical Tasks (mean score = 1.30) as their highest training need and Medical Oncologists rated Management/Supervisory Tasks (mean score = 1.42) as their highest area of training need.. Pulmonologists (mean score = 0.60) and Other Specialists (mean score = 1.00) rated Administration tasks as their top area of training need. Continuing medical education topics rated as the highest need by participants was in the clinical task-related category.

Conclusion:

The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights for the implementation and advancement of a comprehensive curriculum in clinical oncology, specifically designed to enhance the administrative, clinical, and research capacities of oncologists who encounter oligometastatic lung disease in the Philippines. By improving the quality of cancer care and promoting progress in addressing global disparities in cancer outcomes, focus on optimized training is poised to make a significant impact.

Keywords: Training, SBRT, oligometastasis

References:

1. Pan-American Health Organization of the World Health Organization: https://www.paho.org/en

2. Republic of the Philippines - Philippine News Agency: News Information Bureau of the Presidentials Communications Office: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196057

3. Debela DT, Muzazu SG, and Heraro KD, et al: New approaches and procedures for cancer treatment: current perspectives SAGE Open Med 9 20503121211034366 https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211034366, 2021

4. Fernandez RA, Ting FI: Achieving health equity in cancer care in the Philippines. Ecancermedicalscience. 10;17:1547. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2023.1547, 2023

5. Cruz-Lim EM, Cereno RE, Cañal JP, et al: Challenges to Improving Access to Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Radiosurgery in the Philippines: A Case Study for Lower-Middle Income Countries. International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, Vol 116, Issue 2: 430-438 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.02.024, 2023