ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5750

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2024

1 University of Liverpool, Therapeutic Radiography & Oncology, City, United Kingdom. 2 University of Liverpool, Therapeutic Radiography & Oncology, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 3 City of Liverpool College, Visitor Economy, Leisure and Service Industries, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Purpose/Objective:

With on-treatment review of patients becoming an increasingly important aspect of the role, assessment and grading of skin reactions is taught and assessed using photos of skin reactions, the majority of which are skin reactions in white skin and there is little opportunity for students to relate this to clinical practice. This project draws on local expertise from tutors and students at the City of Liverpool College who use theatrical special effects make-up techniques to create realistic radiotherapy skin reactions. The output from the project will be a guide to help users create their own simulated skin reactions. The project aims to develop and evaluate unique radiotherapy skin reaction simulation resources via the following objectives:

1. To develop a written and video guide explaining how to mimic radiotherapy radiation reactions of different grades on all skin types

2. To gain clinical staff evaluation of realism and validation of simulated reactions on all skin types

3. To create a sustainable resource pack for the simulation of radiotherapy radiation skin reactions of different grades on all skin types.

Material/Methods:

Phase 1: Development

Students undertaking the City of Liverpool College “Theatrical Special Effects, Hair and Make-Up” VTCT Level 3 Diploma worked alongside the Radiotherapy Course Team to develop make-up techniques capable of replicating a range of radiotherapy skin reactions. The resulting “reactions” were applied to actors and piloted in radiotherapy student teaching activities.

Phase 2: Evaluation

Clinical radiotherapy staff will provide formal evaluation of the realism of the make-up and moulage resources using a visual analogue scale scoring tool. Additional evaluation will be provided concerning the validity of the skin reaction appearance compared to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grading system via a simple correlation. This will be captured via two formats:

• Live quantitative assessment using a sample of clinical experts

• Photo-based quantitative assessment via survey using staff from regional centres

Additional qualitative evaluation from the student perspective will capture their perceptions of realism and value of the simulated reactions compared to previous photo-based activities. This will be gathered using a focus group method.