ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5740

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2024

4 Sibolt P, Andersson LM, Calmels L, Sjöström D, Bjelkengren U, Geertsen P, Behrens CF. Clinical implementation of artificial intelligence-driven cone-beam computed tomography-guided online adaptive radiotherapy in the pelvic region. Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology 2021; 17: 1-7. doi:10.1016/j.phro.2020.12.004.

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Mini-Oral

Identifying the Continuous Professional Development Educational Needs of Belgian RTTs

Filipa Sousa 1,2 , José G Couto 3 , Dylan Callens 4,5 , Dirk Van Gestel 1

1 Institut Jules Bordet, Radiation Oncology, Brussels, Belgium. 2 Inholland University of Applied Sciences, School of Health, Haarlem, Netherlands. 3 University of Malta, Radiography, Msida, Malta. 4 UZ Leuven, Radiation Oncology, Leuven, Belgium. 5 KU Leuven, Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Leuven, Belgium

Purpose/Objective:

Educational needs assessment is crucial in continuous professional development (CPD). Radiation therapists (RTTs) have experienced considerable professional development and faced significant technological advances over the years, resulting in increased educational demands. This study aims to identify the current CPD educational needs of Belgian RTTs.

Material/Methods:

A mixed-methods methodology was used, collecting and analysing both quantitative and qualitative data through a survey for RTTs and another for other stakeholders, to identify their perspectives about the CPD educational needs of Belgian RTTs. Both surveys were self-designed based on literature review, and were submitted for evaluation and validation to three Radiotherapy (RT) experts. Documentation of the last 10 years with recommendations for RTT’s education was considered to build the surveys, including ESTRO benchmarking (EFQ6), ESTRO core curriculum for Radiation therapists, and EFRS (EQF7) document. Descriptive and statistical analyses of closed-ended questions and thematic analyses from open-ended questions are reported.

Results:

The total number of RTT responses was 165. This corresponds to a participation rate of approximately 30% of the Belgian RTT workforce. The confidence interval or margin of error is estimated at 6%.

Among the 112 non-RTT stakeholders participants, the highest participation was obtained by medical physicists (n=42), followed by Radiation Oncologists (n=25) and Quality managers (n=20).